Lots of pounding waves this morning at Pebble Beach, California. Photo and text by Ruth Paget
High tide coming in three waves at a time is impressive.
By Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France
Sunday, October 26, 2025
Saturday, October 25, 2025
Backgammon Club at Marina Public Library Beginning November 4, 2025 reposted by Ruth Paget
For 18+ year old players, there is a backgammon club starting at Marina (California) Public Library beginning on Tuesday, November 4, 2025. (Part of the Monterey County Free Libraries)
I have posted details about this event from the online calendar of the Monterey County Weekly calendar below:
https://www.montereycountynow.com/events/#/details/backgammon-club/17239822/2025-11-04T16
Players can bring their own sets, if they would like.
Game on!
Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France
Living History Days at San Juan Bautista on November 1, 2025
Meet Mountain Men, Civil War Soldiers, and Victorian ladies at San Juan Bautista’s State Historic Park beginning November 1, 2025 from 11 to 4. Historic food on sale.
I have reposted details about this event from the Monterey County Weekly’s online calendar below:
https://www.montereycountynow.com/events/#/details/living-history-days/14410908/2025-11-01T11
Check out the Mission and Fault Line walk to the cemetary, too.
Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France
Thursday, October 23, 2025
Sketching at the Monterey Museum of Art in Monterey, California reposted by Ruth Paget
Learn to sketch and draw using the artwork at The Monterey Museum of Art beginning on Saturday, October 25, 2025.
I have reposted details about this event from the Monterey County Weekly online calendar below:
https://www.montereycountynow.com/events/#/details/sketching-in-the-galleries/16300851/2025-10-25T12
See how the master artists put together their work in this challenging event.
Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France
Brown Pelicans Flying in the Surf at Pebble Beach, California by Ruth Paget
Most of this video is good. I tried to get an overhead shot of a brown pelican and came up with blue sky.
Several other brown pelicans flew through the waves for me:
Rough surf and storms wash fish and seafood up close to shore where birds have an easier time catching it.
Video and text by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France
Seagull Unfazed by Crashing Waves at Pebble Beach, California posted by Ruth Paget
One lone seagull at Pebble Beach, California this morning
.
 |
Photo by Laurent Paget |
This stately seagull almost looks like a swan. She is unfazed by the crashing, rough surf at Pebble Beach, California.
Posted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France
Wednesday, October 15, 2025
Burger Mondays at Alvarado Street Brewery in Monterey, California reposted by Ruth Paget
$15 for a burger and beer at Monterey’s California Brew Pub - Alvarado Street Brewery on Mondays.
I have reposted details from the Monterey County Weekly online calendar below:
https://www.montereycountynow.com/events/#/details/burger-mondays/16866636/2025-10-20T17
So, Monterey County dwellers could do the following menu:
Burger Mondays or Empanada Mondays
Taco Tuesdays or Rib Tuesdays
Wing Wednesdays
Chicken Noodle Soup or Pasta from Costco
Fish or seafood delivery on Friday
Pizza on Saturday
Oysters on Sunday or roast chicken
Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France
Exchange Student - Host Family Information from Youth for Understanding reposted by Ruth Paget
I was a high school Youth for Understanding exchange student to Japan in 1980. Later my family also hosted Japanese exchange students.
YFU offers programs in 45 countries now. For information about hosting an exchange student, sending a student overseas, or becoming a YFU coordinator, click on the link below:
Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France
Tuesday, October 14, 2025
Diego’s Rib Night (Tuesdays) at Trailside Cafe and Beer Garden in Carmel Valley, California reposted by Ruth Paget
Tuesdays are Diego’s Rib Night at Trailside Cafe and Beer Garden in Carmel Valley, California. Details follow from the Monterey County Weekly’s Online Community Calendar:
Diego’s Rib Night at Trailside Cafe and Beer Garden
Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France
UChicago Year of Games Events 2025 - 2026
The University of Chicago is hosting The Year of Games all throughout 2025 - 2026. Information about major events is available below at the university website:
https://voices.uchicago.edu/yearofgames/news-and-events/
Happy Gaming!
By Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France
Monday, October 13, 2025
Darjeeling: The India Tea Game Created by Ruth Paget
Darjeeling: The India Tea Game Created by Ruth Paget
Indian tea is largely a story of black tea, green leaves processes to make strong black brews.
This Darjeeling tea game is for tea drinkers, people who want to more about India, and food and beverage workers who would like to advance their career.
The objectives of this Darjeeling Tea Game include:
1-Knowing the principal tea growing regions of India
2-Knowing the characteristics of the different Darjeeling harvests
3-Knowing the processing steps that create Indian black teas
4-Knowing the grades of Indian black tea
5-Knowing the main Indian tea types
6-Reward
The materials needed to play this game include:
-The book Tea: History Terroirs Varieties by Kevin Gascoyne, François Marchand, Jasmin Desharnais, and Hugo Américi
-index cards – large and small
-notebook paper
-pen
-Darjeeling tea to use as a reward
Game 1: Indian Tea Growing Regions
Note the four regions below on the front of four index cards. On the back of the index cards, note their location and 5 to 10 facts about the region to quiz yourself on.
These are the tea growing regions or terroirs to learn about:
-The Darjeeling Region
-The Assam Region
-The Nilgiri Hills
-The Sikkim Region
Game 2: Darjeeling Harvest Characteristics
Note: There are more than 30 cultivars or cultivated varieties of tea in India, but T78, AV2, and P312 are the most prevalent.
The cultivar plus the growing conditions of the tea create different flavor profiles. There are 3 main harvest seasons in Darjelling that affect the tea flavor and quality.
Write the following 3 harvest seasons on the front of an index card. On the back of the index card, not 5 to 10 characteristics of the harvest and quiz yourself on them:
-First Flush
-Second Flush
-Autumn Flush
Game 3: Know the Processing Steps that Create Indian Black Teas
There are two main methods for processing Indian black teas: The Orthodox Method and the CTC Method.
For this game, write the Orthodox Method on the front of notepaper. On the back of the notepaper, note the following process steps with 5 to 10 characteristics. When this is done, quiz yourself until you know all the steps in the Orthodox Method.
The Orthodox Method Process Steps to describe follow:
-withering
-rolling
-oxidation
-drying
-sorting
Use the same game style to describe the CTC Method on notebook paper and quiz yourself.
Game 4: Know the Grades of Indian Black Tea
"This grading system to grades of whole-leaf tea. The most important aspect is the number of buds (pekoes). The more buds a tea contains, the more letters in the appellation,” Tea by Gascone et al.
On index cards, note the following abbreviations on the front of the index card and what they mean on the back. Then, quiz yourself with the cards for following acronyms:
-SFTGFOP
-FTGFOP
-TGFOP
-GFOP
-FOP
-OP
-Tippy
-Golden
-Flowery
-Orange
-Pekoe
-1
-S
Game 5: Main Indian Tea Types
For the main Indian tea types listed in Tea by Gascoyne et al., note the tea type on the front of an index card.
On the back of the index card, note the following information:
-tea family (usually black for Indian teas)
-production areas
-harvest season
-cultivar
There are 8 main tea types listed in Tea by Gascoyne et al.
Game 6: Reward
Once you have mastered all facts in this Darjeeling Tea Game, make some Darjeeling or Assam tea and enjoy a cup.
For more information on Indian food and culture, the following books may be of interest:
-Tea: History Terroirs Varieties by Kevin Gascoyne, François Marchand, Jasmin Desharnais, and Hugo Américi
-Monsoon: The Indian Ocean and The Future of American Power by Robert D. Kaplan
-Classic Indian Cooking by Julie Sahni
-Classic Indian Vegetarian Cooking by Julie Sahni
I have written about two Hindu festivals that my family has participated in on my blog. Links to these blogs follow:
-Ganesh Puja in Carmel, California
-Diwali in Monterey, California and Norfolk, Virginia
Happy Tea Sipping!
By Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France -
Sunday, October 12, 2025
Yunnan: The Chinese Tea Game Created by Ruth Paget
Yunnan: The Chinese Tea Game Created by Ruth Paget
This is a game for tea drinkers, people who would like to learn more about China, and food and beverage industry workers who would like to advance in their careers.
Items Needed to Organize Yunnan:
-The book Tea: History Terroirs Varieties by Kevin Gascoyne, François Marchand, Jasmin Desharnais, and Hugo Américi
-Index cards – large and small
-notebook paper
-pens
-boxes of Chinese tea to be used as a prize for mastering all information
Yunnan Game Objectives:
1-Know the families of different teas and their characteristics
2-Know the main cultivars or cultivated varieties of tea grown in China
3-Know the process steps for the tea families that give them their final characteristics
4-Know the terroirs where tea is grown in China and be able to locate the region on a map
5-Know the most famous teas from the different regions
Game 1 – Tea Families Definition
All tea begins as a green leaf, but different processing methods produce teas with specific characteristic for flavor and medicinal value.
For this game, you will place the tea family name on the front of an index card and the definition of the tea family written in your own words on the back.
If you are unsure of a word’s pronunciation, use Google’s pronunciation feature (type the word followed by the word “pronunciation” in the Google search bar. A speaker icon will appear that you can tap to hear the pronunciation.)
Use the tea book mentioned in the materials section to look up the following tea families:
-white teas
-green teas
-yellow teas
-wulong teas
-black teas
-aged teas (learn the names of the specific teas they list as examples)
Game 2: China’s Main Cultivars or Cultivated Varieties of Tea Leaf
Cultivars or cultivated varieties are similar to varietals or grape varieties in wine making.
There are four main cultivars or tea varieties grown in China. For these cultivars, write the name on the front of an index card and 5 to 10 facts on the back to memorize about it, especially the terroirs or areas where it is grown in China.
The following four cultivars are the main ones grown in China:
-Fuding Da Bai
-Long Jing 43
-Tie Guan Yin
-Zhu Ye
Game 3: Know the Process Steps that Create the Different Tea Families
This game will require notebook paper to play.
First, note the tea family on the front of the notebook paper. Use the tea book in the materials section to note the number of process steps for each tea family. The number of steps differs to create the characteristics of each tea family.
Memorize the tea family and the number of process steps to make it. Then, use the tea book to list the tea family name of the front of a sheet of notebook paper. Next, list each process step name and a description of the process in your own words.
Finally, memorize the tea family name and the definition of each step used to make it.
Game 4: Know China’s Main Tea Terroirs
Use the map on page 42 of the print edition of the Tea book in the materials section to locate China’s main tea terroirs. Write the following regions down on index cards. On the back, note the main province and large cities in each region:
-Southwest Region
-Southeast Region
-South of the Yangzi Jiang River Region
-North of the Yangzi Jiang River Region
Game 5: Chinese Tea Types
Tea types are similar to different kinds of wine like Burgundy and Bordeaux.
For this game, you will need large index cards and a pen. On the front of the index card, note the tea type and on the back note the characteristics listed in the tea book. Learn a tea type and one characteristic at a time. Learn three tea types as a group before moving on to the next three.
Note the following characteristics for each tea type:
-tea family
-name translation
-alternative names
-harvest season
-cultivar
There are 12 tea types listed with 5 pieces of information for each tea. 5 x 12 makes 60 pieces of information to learn.
Game 6: Reward Drink some Chinese tea for mastering this game.
For cultural information, the following books provide a good introduction to Chinese food:
-Tea: History Terroirs Varieties by Kevin Gascoyne, Francois Marchand, Jasmin Deshaun’s, and Hugo Americi
-The Food of China by E.N. Anderson
-Invitation to a Banquet by Fuchsia Dunlop
-Complete Chinese Cookbook by Ken Hom
I have written three blogs on Hong Kong’s tea lunch or dim sum that show one way that tea is used in Chinese culture:
Chicago Dim Sum
Millbrae Dim Sum (San Francisco Suburb) Dim Sum
Salinas, California Dim Sum
Have fun learning about Chinese culture!
By Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France
Saturday, October 11, 2025
Cabbage Economics: More than Sauerkraut by Ruth Paget
Cabbage Harvest: More than Sauerkraut by Ruth Paget
I would drive my family bonkers every winter when we lived in Wisconsin by making brats loaded with warm sauerkraut and brown German mustard for dinner on University of Wisconsin football game days and walk around wearing my UW cheesehead.
Laurent and Florence opted for Culver’s cheeseburgers.
If you really want to make sauerkraut at home, this video show the two-ingredient method with cabbage and salt. I would store sauerkraut in the refrigerator, but this video presents conditions where you can store sauerkraut out of the refrigerator:
There is actually a lot you can do with cabbage that is not sour like Dijon roast pork with apples and cabbage.
I wrote a blog on cabbage that details great recipes and cookbook resources for cabbage noted below:
Cabbage is full of Vitamin C, a great antioxidant. That fact makes me like it even with brats.
By Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France
Art at the Farm in Salinas, California by Ruth Paget
Art at the Farm in Salinas, California by Ruth Paget
On my family’s weekly outing to buy pie (strawberry - rhubarb this time) at The Farm in Salinas, California, I focused on finding country art.
The garden furniture art at The Farm is welcoming and rather regal with its armrests:
The large painting of squash and flowers on the entrance sliding door almost qualifies as a mural: To enlarge the image, place your fingers on the image and spread them apart.
Artist Diane Grindol, who has studied art in France, sells notecards at The Farm with samples of her artwork on them. I love notecards with artwork. I have some notecards by Big Sur artist Erin Gafill that I have sent to my family in Connecticut, Wisconsin, and Georgia. Notecards help with cash flow and publicity. Grindol’s notecard we bought follows:
A trip to the farm would not be complete without food decorative art like the squash beauties below:
The goats have the art of leisure down as they lazily wake up in the morning sun:
My daughter Florence Paget, husband Laurent Paget, and I enjoyed our morning at The Farm and came home with heirloom tomatoes and a strawberry-rhubarb pie (rhubarb has a large amount of Vitamin K, which is important for healing wounds and blood clotting).
The Farm is a local country outing that young families might enjoy as well.
By Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France
Reading Steinbeck for Banned Books Week October 5 - 11, 2025 posted by Ruth Paget
For Banned Books Week 2025, my family went to the John Steinbeck House Gift Shop and purchased several books including Grapes of Wrath, which has been banned at different times of history as well as Of Mice and Men.
The store has Penguin versions of the books as well as collector first editions of our local Nobel Prize winner.
You can combine a book shopping outing with lunch upstairs in Steinbeck’s home. The restaurant menu features seasonal items.
Free parking is available on the street on a first come-first served basis. I have listed their website below:
Back in the 2000s, I reviewed the Steinbeck House Restaurant for the Monterey County Weekly (Curculation: 200,000).
https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2018/02/lunching-at-steinbecks-childhood-home.html?m=1
The National Steinbeck Center houses a museum devoted to the works of John Steinbeck. There is a large parking garage next to the Steinbeck Center. For information, their website follows:
Tour groups might arrange to see films based on Steinbeck’s books at the Fox Theatre on Main Street in downtown Salinas.
Agata Popcada at the Monterey County Weekly wrote a nice online article about Henry Miller, a Big Sur resident, whose books have also been banned:
https://mail.google.com/mail/mu/mp/465/#cv/priority/%5Esmartlabel_personal/199d0945fb6cbee9
Information about the Henry Miller Library and its events follows:
https://www.henrymiller.org/ https://www.henrymiller.org/
Carmel Valley author Jane Smiley has had her book A Thousand Acres banned in several school districts despite being a Pulitzer Prize winner. Book information about A Thousand Acres follows:
A Thousand Acres Book Information
Information about Banned Book Week follows:
https://www.ala.org/bbooks/banned
Note: Steinbeck’s Books follow:
-Cup of Gold
-The Pastures of Heaven
-To a God Unknown
-Tortilla Flat
-In Dubious Battle
-The Harvest Gypsies
-The Red Piny
-Of Mice and Men
-The Long Valley
-The Grapes of Wrath
-Forgotten Village
-The Sea of Cortez
-Bombs Away
-The Moon is Down
-Cannery Row
-The Moon is Down
-The Wayward Bus
-The Pearl
-A Russian Journal
-Burning Bright
-The Log from the Sea of Cortez
-East of Eden
-The Short Reign of Pippin IV
-Once There was a War
-America and Americans
-Journal of a Novel
-Steinbeck: A Life in Letters
-Viva Zapata!
-The Acts of King Arthur and his Bold Knights
-Working Days: The Journals of the Grapes of Wrath
By Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France
Monday, October 6, 2025
Breton Crepes for a few days by Ruth Paget
The magic mix of eggs, milk, flour, salt, and oil makes delicious crepes you can fill with butter and cheese or a salad with chèvre goat cheese. This little pile will last for two or three days.
My husband Laurent made these beauties! A bottle of homeopathic Elderberry gummies full of Vitamin C sits by the crepes.
Trader Joe’s sells hard (alcoholic) cider like the French drink to go with these crepes.
Text and photo by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France
Squash Economics iat The Farm in Salinas, California by Ruth Paget
Squash Harvest is in The Farm in Salinas, California by Ruth Paget
Even the too cool to care goats were checking out the squash.
My husband Laurent and I bought a berry pie. Starting in November, the bakery will be the only department open at The Farm till spring.
Now is the time to buy squash for decorating and eating, bringing children out to jump on haystacks and ride mini tractors, and buy a homemade pie.
Look at the squash beauties below! Orange colored squash has vitamin A, which is important for vision. Chop it up, remove the filaments inside, brush the flesh with oil, and bake it at 350 for an hour. Eat it with butter and paprika. The filaments and skin can be recycled as green waste.
The following video deals with baking butternut squash. For squash that is hard to peel, I leave the peel and bake slices or cubes of squash and then scoop out the flesh from the peel:
Another fun marketing day in Salinas, California.
Photos and text by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France
Seagull Munching on Guano at Pebble Beach, California video by Ruth Paget
While waiting to film brown pelicans at Pebble Beach, California, I saw a seagull eating guano on a rock with waves crashing behind it and brown pelicans doing fly-bys behind it.
The sound of the waves crashing is excellent on the video below:
Guano is bird feces. It is highly sought as a fertilizer and wars have been fought over it.
Video and text by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France
Sunday, October 5, 2025
Oktoberfest at Asilomar on October 11, 2025 in Pacific Grove, California reposted by Ruth Paget
Oktoberfest is being celebrated on October 11, 2025 at Asilomar Conference Center in Pacific Grove, California.
For information about tickets, I have reposted the Monterey County Weekly calendar posting below:
Oktoberfest at Asilomar in Pacific Grove, California
Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France
California Debt Watch Tool looks interesting reposted by Ruth Paget
This debt watch tool managed by the State of California looks useful:
Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France
Taco Kit Dinner at Costco in Sand City, California by Ruth Paget
Taco Kit Deal at Costco in Sand City, California by Ruth Paget
The Southwestern US taco dinner at Costco in Sand City, California provides enough food for 3 people to eat 4 medium tacos for about $5.50
The kit comes with:
-12 soft corn tortillas
-Al Pastor chicken pieces that are precooked
-shredded cabbage
-shredded cheese
-cilantro lime crema salsa
-spicy hot salsa
-4 lime sections to squeeze on the tacos or squeeze into beer
I took photos of the taco kit below:
Taco Tuesday is easy to do with one of these taco kits at Costco.
Your weekly dinner menu could look like this:
Monday - pasta dinner
Tuesday - taco Tuesday
Wednesday - wings and drumsticks
Thursday - fish or seafood delivery
Friday - pizza - Detroit pizza is reasonably priced at Nob Hill
By Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France
Saturday, October 4, 2025
Shipwrecks of the Monterey Peninsula Talk on October 18, 2025 in Monterey, California reposted by Ruth Paget
There will be a talk on Shipwrecks of the Monterey Peninsula on October 18, 2025 in Monterey, California at California’s First Theatre.
For details about this event, I have reposted information from The Monterey County Weekly:
Shipwrecks of the Monterey Peninsula
Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France
Medicinal Plant Tour on October 12, 2025
There will be a Medicinal Plant Tour on October 12, 2025 in Monterey, California on Fisherman’s Wharf.
Information about the event follows reposted from the Monterey County Weekly:
Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Msrrying France
Brown Pelican Soaring Home at Nightfall in Pebble Beach, California by Ruth Paget
Brown Pelicans Soaring Home at Nightfall Photo in Pebble Beach, California by Ruth Paget
Patient Ruth catches a brown pelican on an updraft of wind on the way home at nightfall:
Photo and text by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France
Friday, October 3, 2025
Salade a la Tourangelle in Salinas, California by Ruth Paget
Laurent’s grandfather was a wine merchant and his grandmother ran an epicerie in the country. An epicerie is like an upscale convenience store. Mamie’s epicerie most definitely sold wine vinegar, which is used in the vinaigrette for salad a la Tourangelle.
I went to The Farm in Salinas, California and bought organic lettuce and an heirloom tomato for my salad. I went down Main Street to Star Market and bought Humboldt Fog goat cheese. Nob Hill makes a store brand chèvre goat cheese, which helps pay employee salaries that I also buy.
Today, I put those ingredients together to make Salade a la Tourangelle at home, which is pictured below:
This salad is super easy to make. We ate slices of apple caramel crisp pie for dessert from The Farm as well, which is open year-round for bakery purchases.
Wine vinegar is also a no-food waste product par excellence.
By Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France
Monterey Tequila Festival on October 18, 2025 in Monterey, California reposted by Ruth Paget
The Monterey Tequila Festival is being held on October 18, 2025 in Monterey, California reposted by Ruth Paget
This event looks like fun for people who can legally drink alcohol. Details from the Monterey County Weekly reposted below:
Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France
Thursday, October 2, 2025
Free E-Book UChicago Press October Reposted by Ruth Paget
The University of Chicago Press Free E-Book for October is The New Promethius: Faith Science, and the Supernatural Mind in the Victorian Fin de Siecle by Courtenay Raia.
People interested in Victorian England might like this nonfiction book about the era.
Information about the book follows:
Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France
Salinas, California Cheese and Pie Lunch by Ruth Paget
Salinas, California Cheese and Pie Lunch by Ruth Paget
My husband Laurent and I did our recycling of tin cans, plastic bottles, and glass bottles at Star Market in Salinas, California this morning.
We used our recycling money as a coupon towards buying Wisconsin cheddar cheese and Cypress Grove California Humboldt Fog cheese, similar to Saint Maure Chèvre from Tours, France. (Cypress Grove is located in Humboldt County California).
.
Cheese, chocolate, and apple caramel crisp pie from The Far.m. We drank Joffrey’s Tatiana Bayou Beignet coffee with milk along with “lunch.”
We ate sourdough flatbread and baguette with the cheese.
The apple caramel crisp takes about two minutes to warm up and oozes caramel for this pie from The Farm.
Salinas, California has the ingredients for a fall lunch when cool weather comes back.
(Note: My relatives in Wisconsin of English descent ate cheddar with apple pie and coffee or Darjeeling tea. I am continuing the family tradition with local ingredients in Salinas, California.)
(Note: The bakery at The Farm is open year round.)
By Ruth Paget author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France
Sunday, September 28, 2025
Organic Salad Lunch from Salinas, California by Ruth Paget
Organic Salad Lunch from Salinas, California by Ruth Paget
I made a delicious organic salad with items I bought at Nob Hill Supermarket.
I used mini red leaf and green leaf lettuce from Tanimura and Antle in Salinas Valley, Roma tomatoes, and California avocados from Southern California.
Gathered ingredients - the walnut and olive oil come from California, top.
Salad made with organic radishes and grapes to complete the meal.
Walnut oil and Napa Valley Red Wine Vinegar
Salad gone with Pount Reyes Rosemary, Thyme, and Basil cheese and slices of Sopprasetta sausage made by Columbus, a California company.
Photos and text by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France
New Life in Fall at Pebble Beach, California by Ruth Paget
New Life Popping Up Among the Old at Pebble Beach, California by Ruth Paget
White and yellow native plants buds in the sagebrush but off from a hot spell. The cool ocean breezes are most welcome.
Native Plant Volunteers keep Pebble Beach looking good!
Native Plant Volunteers Information
Photo and text by Ruth Paget
By Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France
Social Security Payments Overseas reposted by Ruth Paget
This social security documents talks about social security payments while overseas - not all countries are set up for receiving payments while- this is a know before you go document -
Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France
Saturday, September 27, 2025
Internal Revenue Service jobs reposted by Ruth Paget
In the past two years 19,000 people have been downsized at Microsoft. I think all of these people have the computer skills to work at places like the IRS and H&R Block once they do the training courses.
The IRS website below has more information:
Posted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France
Halloween Dishes and Dish Towels at Nob Hill Supermarket in Salinas, California by Ruth Paget
Halloween Dishes and Dish Towels at Nob Hill Supermarket in Salinas, California by Ruth Paget
I went out to buy roma tomatoes, romaine lettuce hearts, and avocados for cheeseburgers at Nob Hill Supermarket in Salinas, California this morning.
I found some adorable Halloween soup bowls, plates, and dish towels. The bowls are perfect for pumpkin soup.
The dishes are plastic and can go in the dishwasher.
I also found a Point Reyes artisan cheese with basil, thyme and rosemary that I picked up.
I like marketing in Salinas!
By Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France
Friday, September 26, 2025
US Treasury Data on National Debt today reposted by Ruth Paget
This is the most current data I could find on the US National debt. The data comes from the US Treadury. It does not include information on outstanding taxes, which would be interesting to see.
https://open.substack.com/chat/posts/4ee9b188-ead6-48e0-ae39-d9c2685245e2?utm_source=share
Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France
Thursday, September 25, 2025
Expatriate American Tax Reporting Form reposted by Ruth Paget
This IRS form is interesting on expatriate American tax reporting, too.
https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f8854.pdf
Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France
Info on paying income tax on foreign assets reposted by Ruth Paget
This information answers a lot of questions about paying taxes on foreign assets:
Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France
Wednesday, September 24, 2025
Paying to get book reviews posted by Ruth Paget
Authors can now pay services like Elite to obtain book reviewers. If I understood correctly, reviewers receive free books. This is especially interesting for self-published authors. Info follows:
Posted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France
Ghost Writers at Gotham posted by Ruth Paget
I looked up ghost writers on Google and found several results. Gotham Ghost Writing looked interesting.
Ghost writing might provide some gig work for writers during a tough economic period.
The link follows:
Posted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France
Best Book Writing Software 2025 blog reposted by Ruth Paget
This blog about novel and nonfiction book writing software looks interesting. Is this Chat GPT for novels or something like it.?
Book Writing Softeare 2025 blog
If you are having trouble finishing up a book or starting one, this software might help with organization.
Once you are finished with your novel, there are many book packagers who can arrange for promotion.
An example of a book packaging company follows:
Selling creative work that you retain rights to helps put money into the economy.
Nolo has some sample tax write offs for writers. Check with an accountant before writing items off though.
Sample tax write offs for writers
You would have to run this by a lawyer and account, but if this is legal, this is how to get on the New York Times bestseller list:
Say 25,000 copies would get you onto the bottom of the bestseller list. As a business expense for pr and marketing, you would buy the copies yourself and give them out free to followers. Then, you write off the expense of the books on taxes. Prominent figures can easily give away that many books. You spend zero dollars to do this by year-end, but you have to have the initial investment for the bragging rights.
Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France (written only with Microsoft word)
Tuesday, September 23, 2025
Sagebrush on the Beach at Pebble Beach, California by Ruth Paget
We have had a succession of hot days that has dried the sagebrush plants by the shore at Pebble Beach, California:
Even dry the sagebrush is photogenic.
The Native Plant Volunteers keep Pebble Beach looking good:
Native Plant Volunteers Information
Photos and text by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France
Wing Wednesdays at Alvarado Street Brewery in Monterey, California reposted by Ruth Paget
Wing Wednesdays is a great no-food waste initiative at Alvarado Street Brewery in Monterey, California. They offer a variety of sauces and….beers. If you arrive early enough, the wings are half price.
Details on pricing and dates follow:
Wing Wednesdays at Alvarado Street Brewery
Many neighborhoods also have Wing Stop Restaurants for wings every day of the week.
Black Bear Diner in Salinas has an 8-wing plus fries basket that I like. The garlic-Parmesan dipping sauce is pretty awesome for the wings. I also liked the huckleberry cobbler, because it was not too sweet.
Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France
Bug Walk at Earthbound Farm Stand in Carmel Valley, California reposted by Ruth Paget
Find out about good bugs used in organic farming at the Earthbound Farm Stand in Carmel Valley, California on September 27, 2025. Tickets are $10. Information about the event and tickets follow:
This would be a cute monthly program, if there is interest.
Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France
Drawing Birds book by Maury Aaseng posted by Ruth Paget
Monterey County has many species of birds that live here like brown pelicans, cormorants, condors, and seagulls as well as hundreds that migrate through the region.
Drawing birds allows you to understand better the habitat birds live in, especially how they feed and fly.
Drawing Birds by Maury Aaseng is an introduction to this pleasurable hobby. I put the Amazon link to this book below:
By Ruth Paget, Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France
Monday, September 22, 2025
Goats, Kiddy Tractors, and Organic Produce at The Farm in Salinas, California by Ruth Paget
Goats, Kiddy Tractors, and Organic Produce at The Farm in Salinas, California by Ruth Paget
Harvest 2025 is here at The Farm in Salinas, California, but everyone knows the real reasons kids want to visit are the goats and kiddy tractors they can spend time with while their parents shop for organic produce.
The windmill below is what you can see from Highway 68 going into Salinas lets you pinpoint the farm as you navigate your way there from the Spreckels Exit:
Once you are headed toward The Farm on the 1 1/2 paved lane paved service road, you will drive right into The Farm with its logo sign mounted on an old pickup truck:
The first thing you will see especially if you have children is the kiddy tractors play area. This area is rich in photo opportunities:
Another great photo opportunity area is by the goat pen. The Farm is not a petting zoo, so you cannot feed the animals but talking to them is fine if you are sweet like Dr. Doolittle.
One of my favorite bumper crop items is the apple. I think one of the best ways to eat apples is in pie, which they sell at thyme Farm year-round.
The Farm will close in November and will reopen next year for Farm School classes and tractor rides. The Farm’s website has details on these activities, which I have listed below:
The Farm in Salinas, California
For a fun country outing, The Farm in Salinas, California has something for everyone.
Strawberry earrings for $6 are a nice farm souvenir.
Row of vitamin C and antioxidant rich cilantro. Cilantro is so good for you I think a security camera on it to prevent theft.
By Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France
Sunday, September 21, 2025
Risotto alla Milanese at Pub's (Growers Pub) in Salinas, California by Ruth Paget
Risotto alla Milanese at Pub’s (Growers Pub) in Salinas, California by Ruth Paget
After a succession of hot days in the high 80s, my daughter Florence Paget, husband Laurent Paget, and I went out for an iodine-rich dinner at Pub’s (Growers Pub) in Salinas, California.
Salt depletion caused by sweating in high heat reduces iodine in the body. Iodine depletion has been linked to several health disorders including thyroid cancer by the National Institutes of Health. I have provided a hyperlink to the NIH site: NIH site regarding iodine depletion. This text does not substitute for a doctor, but it might help guide dining choices for people who work outside all day or who do not have air conditioning and provide a discussion topic for doctor appointments.
With this grim information about iodine on my mind, I ordered a meal that a rich Milan, Italy dweller might order to deal with a hot days.
I started with fried calamari (squid) rings that I could dip in piquant sauce with fresh lemon squeezed on the calamari. The crunchy, salty breading was delicious. The squid itself has protein and selenium, which helps the thyroid produce hormones and is an antioxidant according to WebMD.com.
After the calamari, I ate iodine-rich salad with blue cheese dressing. The blue cheese was very creamy and made me think it had been made with Gorgonzola or cheese made in the Gorgonzola style. The crispy and cold romaine lettuce tasted great after a succession of hot days.
My main dish was an excellent risotto alla Milanese made with carnaroli rice from the app River Valley in Northern Italy.
Risotto is easy to make if you can patiently stand at the stove and add in a little chicken broth at a time to be absorbed by the rice before the next addition of broth.
I used the risotto alla Milanese (saffron risotto) recipe from the Mediterranean dish.combwebsite to guide me. For this recipe, you heat chicken broth and pour some on saffron threads to steep before cooking. The saffron makes the risotto a golden yellow.
After you do this, you soften chopped onion in olive oil. Once this is done, you add in the pudgy carnaroli rice and coat it with hot rice for several minutes.
Next, you add dry white wine and broth followed by dissolved saffron. After this, you keep turning the rice till it becomes al dente, adding broth along the way. When the rice is creamy, remove it from the heat and stir in 1/2 cup grated Parmesan or grains pedant along with butter. Serve warm and enjoy the salty Parmesan cheese.
This meal does taste wonderful when the weather cools down at night after a hot day at Pub’s in Salinas, California.
By Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France
Saturday, September 20, 2025
Empanada Night Mondays at Esteban Restaurant in Monterey, California reposted by Ruth Paget
Esteban Restaurant in Monterey, California is doing Empanada Night Mondays. Pricing details follow from Monterey County Weekly Online Community Calendar:
Empanada Mondays at Esteban Restaurant In Monterey, Calendar Details
Try these savory delights that originated in Galicia, Spain.
Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France
Friday, September 19, 2025
UChicago Press Romance Languages and Civilizations books reposted by Ruth Paget
Information and Pricing about Romance Languages and Civilizations books from the University of Chicago Press follow;
UChicago Press Romance Languages and Civilizations books
Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France
Paella Demo and Tapas at the Quail Lodge on September 20, 2025 at The Quail Lodge in Carmel Valley, California reposted by Ruth Paget
Paella Demo Class and Tapas at the Quail Lodge in Carmel Valley, California reposted by Ruth Paget
I hope this is the start of a tradition!
Information and details follow:
Paella Class and Demo at The Quail
Rice is California’s indigenous grain that grows along the Sacramento Valley. Everyone in the state should know how to make paella, which can be served with chicken, vegetables, or seafood.
Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France
Monday, September 15, 2025
Santa Cruz Shakespeare (CA) Upcoming Shows and Tickets reposted by Ruth Paget
Santa Cruz Shakespeare (California) has a variety of plays coming up including many that are not Shakespeare. Information and tickets details are available on their website reposted below:
Santa Cruz Shakespeare Tickets
Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France
Pumpkin Economics in Monterey County California by Ruth Paget
Pumpkin Economics in Monterey County by Ruth Paget
This past weekend, my daughter Florence Paget, husband Laurent, and I went to Trader Joe’s in Marina, California and admired the bumper crop of pumpkins coming in from the 2025 Harvest.
The photos below show some of the beautiful varieties on sale. For photo details, spread your fingers apart on the image to enlarge it.
For other pumpkin harvests when my daughter was little, I took her to Earthbound Farm in Carmel Valley to buy pumpkins to make homemade salted pumpkin seeds and savory pumpkin soup.
My travel memoir from this staycation outing follows:
For people who would like to make an easier pumpkin soup, I have posted my recipe for pumpkin soup using canned pumpkin purée below:
For people who would to buy ready-made pumpkin pies and/or pumpkins, you can go to The Farm just outside Salinas at the Spreckels exit off Highway 68 (Main Street become Highway 68 outside of town).
The Farm is an agricultural research station with a model farm, country store, community supported agricultural produce box subscription program, and bakery.
I have posted a link to The Farm’s website below:
The Farm in Salinas, California
Harvest Pumpkins at The Farm pictured below:
For people interested in a fall festival with pumpkins and a corn maze head out to Swank Farms in Hollister (San Benito County). Ticket details and information are posted below:
Cooler weather is coming, which is perfect for warm berages with pumpkin spice as well.
Whatever your preference, enjoy the 2025 bumper crop of pumpkins in Monterey County.
Note: The internal mesh around the pumpkin seeds might be able to be used as feed for hogs and chickens or as organic fertilizer to make the pumpkin a no-food-waste item. The pumpkin skins might be able to be used as feed and fertilizer as well. I think pumpkins are pretty slop for hogs.
By Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France