Mothers’ Day 2026 in Monterey County California by Ruth Paget

Mothers’ Day 2026 in Monterey County, California by Ruth Paget 

For Mother’s Day 2026, my family and I went to some of my favorite places in Monterey County with a lunch delivery from Avatar Indian Grill in Salinas, California. 

My husband Laurent, daughter Florence, and I started our day at Pebble Beach. I drank a Peerless organic coffee from The Market by the Lodge and enjoyed breathing in the misty Del Monte Forest air as we drove along 17-Mile Drive. 

At the beach, I did some bird watching. The brown pelicans were out flying in V-formation low over the water with some diving for fish. Black, long-necked cormorants fluttered past along with seagulls. White Great Egrets stalked frogs and stranded fish along the coast as well. I never tire of watching these birds that fly over crashing waves. 

After my communing with nature at the beach, we drove past deer nibbling grass on the golf course as we drove out to Highway 1 towards Carmel Valley Road. We drove past nurseries, vineyards, luxury hotels, horse ranches, upscale homes, and restaurants on the way to Carmel Valley Park. 

I did some forest bathing in the mountain air and soaking up sunshine in the warm park. I like the well-groomed ornamental trees outside the Carmel Valley History Museum and houses on the mountainsides that remind me of Japan for their designs that blend into the slopes. 

We drove over scenic Laureles Grade to Highway 68 east towards Salinas and past Corral de Tierra, site of John Steinbeck's collection of short stories entitled The Pastures of Heaven. 

At home, I ordered one of my favorite treat meals from Avatar Indian Grill – coconut curry vegetables with rice and naan bread. The vegetables were seasonal, organic ones from the Salinas Valley (onions, green peppers,  zucchini, carrots, and mushroom). I drank a Peroni Nastro Azzuro Italian lager beer with my meal and thought I had a nice, relaxed Mother’s Day. 

Florence and Laurent finished my already great day with gifts of two dozen pink roses and a Pebble Beach cheese and charcuterie board. 

I am thankful for my family and living in a community that has areas for nature walks, bird watching, forest bathing, and restaurants that serve delicious and healthy food. 

Note: Hikers may be interested in trying out several of the trails at Pebble Beach. The following guide below has steps noted on them as well: 

https://www.pebblebeach.com/insidepebblebeach/happy-trails-tips-to-hiking-the-del-monte-forest-in-pebble-beach/

By Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

A Diet for the 21st Century: Mediterranean Style by Ruth Paget

A Diet for the 21st Century by Ruth Paget 

To adapt my diet to the needs of the 21st century, I read More Mediterranean: 225+ New Plant-Forward Recipes – Endless Inspiration for Eating Well by America’s Test Kitchen based in Boston, Massachusetts. 

Two issues in particular have influenced the 21st century: 

-greater food insecurity even in the United States, which has historically exported food surplus 

-a world population that has almost doubled since I was a teenager 

For example, In 2025, 7.822 million women who are pregnant, postpartum, breastfeeding women, and young children need the services of Women, Infants, and Children according to to the USDA WICData Tables below (2025 is the latest data available):

https://www.fns.usda.gov/pd/wic-program

Without WIC, these individuals would be food insecure. 

I used the Macrotrends website for world population figures below: 

2025: 8.19 billion 

1979: 4.36 billion 

To use the Macrotrends website below, slide your finger along the chart to find years and population data:

https://www.macrotrends.net/global-metrics/countries/wld/world/population 

Higher population levels place a strain on existing food resources, which encourages the greater consumption of lower-priced vegetables. 

I happen to like vegetables, so I found many recipes to try at home and look for in restaurants and delicatessens in More Mediterranean. This cookbook also provides what they describe as vegetable-heavy fish and seafood dishes. I love fish and seafood, so I found these recipes appealing as well. 

America’s Test Kitchen describes the Mediterranean Diet as very desirable to follow for its health benefits:  

-wards off heart disease 

-encourages good gut health 

-promotes positive mental health 

-prevents Alzheimer’s Disease and cancer 

America’s Test Kitchen writes that the approach to following the Mediterranean Diet had changed from a pyramid approach to a plate approach. The Mediterranean Meal should look like the following: 

-1/2 plate vegetables and fruits 

-roughly ¼ plate whole grains (3/8 plate)

-roughly ¼ plate protein (1/8 plate)

Vegetarian protein combinations take on more of a significance here with seed and grain and pulse (lentils for example) and grain combinations augmenting the protein on the plate. 

My family also uses 00 flour to make bread. This flour traditionally used in Neapolitan pizza dough has a high protein content by itself that can augment the protein content of a meal with smaller portions of meat.  

Another reason I like the More Mediterranean cookbook is its inclusion of recipes from Mediterranean Africa and the Middle East in addition to Mediterranean Europe. 

The spice blends from these regions all by themselves would probably be good with buttered pasta, buttered rice, and baked potatoes with sour cream and butter. 

Several of the recipes I would try or buy at a delicatessen include: 

-beet salad with spiced yogurt and watercress 

-parsley – cucumber salad with feta cheese, pomegranate, and walnuts

-horiatiki Greek village salad with chopped vegetables, oregano, and feta cheese 

People who already like going to farmers’ markets will find much to like in More Mediterranean: 225+ New Plant-Forward Recipes – Endless Inspiration for Eating Well by America’s Test Kitchen. 

By Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

Top 10 Tailgate Pregame Recipes reposted by Ruth Paget

I thought the following Top 10 Tailgate Pregame Recipes looked very appetizing.

I especially like how the tailgate pregames parties create community for the game attendees and get all the vehicles parked way before the game starts.

The recipes follow:

https://barbecuebible.com/2019/10/25/10-best-tailgating-recipes/

Maybe the concessions could sell some items or services  to make this tradition easier to maintain like selling sides such macaroni and cheese, coleslaw, gazpacho in drink containers, Greek salads, sodas, coffee drinks, team merchandise, and garbage and recycle take away.  

Parking spots are numbered so this could be organized like curbside pick-up.

Leftover food could be sold through Too Good to Go or a similar organization.

Just a thought on a rainy day.

By Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

The Gilded not Golden Renaissance - Read all about it in Inventing the Renaissance on sale by UChicago Press reposted by Zruth Paget

Ada Palmer’s Inventing the Renaissance discusses the myth of the Renaissance and its darker side in this debunking book on sale now by the University of Chicago Press.

Information about Inventing the Renaissance and purchase details follow:

https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/I/bo246135916.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Inventing%20the%20Renaissance&utm_campaign=Reader%27s%20Picks%20May%202026

Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

First Tee Golf Camps Starting Soon reposted by Ruth Paget

First Tee Golf-Based Summer Camps are starting soon across Monterey County.

For information about the First Tee Summer Golf Camp, check out their website below:

https://firstteemontereycounty.org/

Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

Elaine Douvas, Oboe, at Hidden Valley in Carmel Valley, California reposted Ruth Paget

Elaine Douvas, Oboe, who has performed for the Metropolitan Opera, will be in concert at Hidden Valley in Carmel Valley, California on June 2, 2026 according to the Monterey County Community Calendar.

More information and ticket purchase details from the Monterey County Weekly Calendar follow:

https://www.montereycountynow.com/events/#/details/masters-concert-elaine-douvas-oboe/18885965/2026-06-02T19

Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures at UChicago Hosts Lecture of Sudanese Archaeological Work Amidst Conflict reposted by Ruth Paget

The Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures at the University of Chicago will host a lecture on Sudanese archaeological work during a time of conflict (notably at Darfur) on May 27, 2026 with French scholar Vincent Francigny, who has lived in Khartoum for more than ten years as the head of the French Archaeological Mission there..

Information about this free event follows:

https://events.uchicago.edu/event/258182-nubian-month-visiting-scholar-lecture-with-vincent-fr?mkt_tok=MjUwLUNRSC05MzYAAAGiBPWZl0H65O0wHFOtJhzFGewK6uK9NFaS00oZ1p07prk6uXg3gY_8ujKuqVGbOxGJ7-_DTkmfqiF7dgurUkdLeyn4-eeHMhKv3g4B_NSjkwksRvo

Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

Mexican Bush Sage Sighting at Pebble Beach, California by Ruth Paget

While drinking a Peerless organic coffee from The Market at Pebble Beach )California), I saw a sprawling bush with spiky green leaves along the garden trail.

I used Google lens to identify this plant called a Mexican bush sage.

In late summer and early fall the leaves are full of purple flowers that attract hummingbirds.

Mexican bush sages require minimal watering and seem to do well with ocean fog and drizzle.

According to nursery notes from Mountain Valley Growers, Mountain bush sage offers good ground coverage for a minimum outlay of money.

More nursery information and purchase details follow:

https://mountainvalleygrowers.com/organic-plants/salvia-leucantha-all-purple-mexican-bush-sage/

My husband Laurent brought me a souvenir to go with my nature walk - a bag of Pebble Beach brand Espresso Maranello coffee beans for weekend breakfasts.

I thought that was a great souvenir for a garden walk and bird watching at Pebble Beach, California.

By Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France

To host an exchange student or study abroad - check out Youth for Understanding reposted by Ruth Paget

To host an international exchange student or have a student study abroad as an exchange student, check out Youth for Understanding for options including scholarships:

https://yfuusa.org/

I went to Japan as an exchange student with Youth for Understanding in 1980.

Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Gams

Places to Find Potted Cooking Herbs in Salinas, California by Ruth Paget

Places to Find Potted Cooking Herbs in Salinas, California by Ruth Paget

While making a trip to Nob Hill for bread and drinkable yogurt, I saw that Nob Hill was selling potted herbs and vegetables in the entrance.   Snipping fresh herbs into a dish always makes me think of Nigella Lawson’s cooking shows.

Salinas cooks interested in perking up dishes like eggs, rice with butter, pasta with tomato sauce, mashed potatoes with butter and/or sour cream, and salads might enjoy checking out what the following stores have to offer as potted herbs and/or vegetables:

*Nob Hill

Salinas, California

*Lowe’s

Salinas, California

*CVS

Salinas, California - check online first for availability

*Costco

Salinas and Sand City, California

*Trader Joe’s

Marina, California

Happy Cooking!

By Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

Purple Flowered Brazilian Vervain Verbena Sighting at the Farm outside Salinas, California by Ruth Paget

While picking up an apple crisp pie (around $33) at the Farm outside Salinas (California), I saw a 6-foot purple plant growing the parking lot by the garden.

I used Google lens to identify the plant and saw that is is a Brazilian vervain verbena plant.

The Brazilian vervain verbena is very useful to the Salinas area for several reasons:

-their flowers attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds and other crop pollinators

-bees use honey they collect to make honey

-the plant is drought resistant

-the plant is heat tolerant

-the plant is deer resistant

Details on this plant from a nursery and purchase information follow:

https://www.botanicalinterests.com/products/brazilian-vervain-verbena-seeds?variant=43922580373757&country=US&currency=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&tw_source=google&tw_adid=&tw_campaign=19807336947&tw_kwdid=&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=19814964674&gbraid=0AAAAAD5FVGyG5Z3SJOiGbKy1SC-qRpTMH&gclid=Cj0KCQjwoMXQBhDcARIsAH-eEtuj6gP8ILJ6mJhjP9VpXlUMdOcpmusBONpK4EQSTq9kmFWIVXlTjpUaAgS5EALw_wcB

Have fun garden strolling at the Farm outside Salinas, California where you can buy pie and heirloom tomatoes among other items!

By Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

Faux Double Ball Boxwood Topiary Trees on Sale at Costco and Online posted by Ruth Paget

On today’s Costco run I saw people buying faux double ball boxwood trees (about 4 feet tall).  

Topiary trees look good on either side of doorways.(Versailles and other French chateaux use this decorating feature.)  

This faux tree lets you have this landscaped look inside your home with little maintenance (maybe dusting). People in colder climates can have year-round greenery with this topiary  tree.

The following link to a faux double ball topiary sold by qvc follows:

https://www.qvc.com/nearly-natural-34-boxwood-double-ball-topiary.product.H472389.html?colorId=000&sizeId=551&ref=GBA&CID=GGL-SP-GGL%7CSP%7CBrandProducthomedecordecorativeaccents%7CHMD%7CPLA%7CX%7CX%7CStatic%7CX%7CACQ%7CX%7CX%7CX&e4=ACQ&e5=PLA&e6=HMD&e7=16923249340&e8=Cj0KCQjwoMXQBhDcARIsAH-eEtsSbqNfzxnmSuV0VraeLThp9u3c1h-yDX4zCmYZVZvmVbNFoh-jzj4aAuZIEALw_wcB&e9=SRCH&e10=PROD&e11=5349761714&e12=169836202068&e13=pla-2489895218392&e17=H472389-000-551&e24=g&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=16923249340&gbraid=0AAAAAD3-fzlEbrbB7XH1Xb9f_sd2O7rkG&gclid=Cj0KCQjwoMXQBhDcARIsAH-eEtsSbqNfzxnmSuV0VraeLThp9u3c1h-yDX4zCmYZVZvmVbNFoh-jzj4aAuZIEALw_wcB&sc=entry

Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

United Announces Seasonal Non-Stop Flights Between Monterey and Chicago reposted by Ruth Paget

United announces seasonal non-stop flights between Monterey, California and Chicago, Illinois for a 4 1/2 hour flight.

Art and architecture lovers have a choice of world famous museums to visit here and architecture tours by boat and bus.  

Information about this new flight service by United follows:

https://www.montereyairport.com/press-release/united-airlines-announces-seasonal-nonstop-service-between-monterey-and-chicago

Note: I lived in the corn cob Marina City Tower close to the boat in the photo after graduating from the University of Chicago.

Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

PG&E Money Savings for Using Time of Use Plans reposted by Ruth Paget

Using electricity during off-peak hours for laundry machines and dishwashers for example can save on electricity bills with PG&E Time of Use Plans.

I have reposted information on PG&E’s time and use plans below:

https://www.pge.com/en/account/rate-plans/time-of-use-rate-plans.html

Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

UChicago’s Chicago Minds Fundraising Achievements to Date and Guiding Principles reposted by Ruth Paget

The University of Chicago’s. Chicago Minds Fundraising Achievements to date in 2026 follow along with guiding principles for university fundraising efforts follow:

https://news.uchicago.edu/story/university-chicago-launches-ambitious-campaign-chicago-minds?s_src=N26395&mkt_tok=MjUwLUNRSC05MzYAAAGh7z-Trf1eRCbhZnbQw0Kw5LE0mFbjGqlRoG_yLljnucFDV3n1bafN1mylzCTZn2yUgr69wH7jw6aNwdnL1W5DxPJAPrlLD3ERGHefJ5-tNNaRr6Y

Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

Cleveland Orchestra’s Kasower (Principal Cello) and Walters (Solo English Horn) Hidden Valley Concert on May 27, 2026 reposted by Ruth Paget

The Monterey County Weekly online calendar lists an upcoming concert at Hidden Valley Music Seminars in Carmel Valley (California) featuring the Cleveland Orchestra’s Mark Kasower (Principal Cello) and Robert Walters (Solo English Horn) on May 27, 2026.

Event information and ticket purchase details follow on the link to the Monterey County Weekly online community calendar:

https://www.montereycountynow.com/events/#/details/masters-concert-mark-kosower-cello-robert-walters-english-horn/18802867

Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

Gaming the Gods Course Hones Analytical Skills at UChicago reposted by Ruth Paget

The Gaming the Gods course at the University of Chicago Divinity School challenges students to identify religious and belief systems present in games like Halo and India.

The class learns about insider/outsider analysis skills as one of the class outcomes.

Students are invited to bring in content from their studies outside the class such as in economics and art history to enrich the class experience for all students as they analyze the games.

Many students are learning about foreign cultures and religions through gaming imagery in the 21st century making game analysis a necessary skill like media literacy.

The University of Chicago article on the Gaming the Gods course follows:

https://news.uchicago.edu/story/please-play-syllabus?utm_medium=05.21email&utm_source=UChicagoNews&mkt_tok=MjUwLUNRSC05MzYAAAGh6rBPisKWxgFkMPrctnu1smQvweUMz_uZursjGo9Rwf1rNpAoW10BZHihQNeOGUsfQmkFuXP6v2lqqsiPZJjTT9jAT2GXfPCm3k3Ni2fs0C4DsMo

Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

Sweet Pea Shrub Sightings at The Market at Pebble Beach, California by Ruth Paget

Sweet Pea Shrub Sightings at the Market at Pebble Beach, California by Ruth Paget 

While drinking my Peerless organic coffee at The Market at Pebble Beach (California), I used the Google lens app to identify a sweet pea shrub grown by the side of The Market. 

The sweet pea shrub is originally from South Africa and grows well in coastal conditions like those at Pebble Beach. 

It requires frequent watering when first becoming established, but once it is established it can withstand drought conditions. The sweet pea can be trimmed to a hedge with purple-magenta flowers poking out of the hedge like those at the Market at Pebble Beach.  

More information about the sweet pea shrub follows: 

https://www.thespruce.com/sweet-pea-shrub-profile-5074216

Happy Garden Strolling! 

By Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

Painting in the 1980s Art Book on sale by UChicago Press reposted by Ruth Paget

The overarching ambiguity of Painting in the 1980s characterizes outwardly diverse styles such as Neo-Geo and Italian Transvanguardia in this book by Rosemary Vohane Erpf sold by the University of Chicago Press during its book sale which runs until June 15, 2026.

Details about the book and purchase information follow:

https://mail.google.com/mail/mu/mp/465/#cv/priority/%5Esmartlabel_promo/19e455f9e35b502a

Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

UChicagoNode makes 200 Special Library Collections Available to Researchers reposted by Ruth Paget

The following article in UChicago News discusses UChicgoNode which makes 200 University of Chicago Special Library Collections available to researchers in digital format.

These collection reflect the diversity of the University from archaeological digs in Turkey to 1960s news television.

UChicagoNote comments on collected data (metadata) and is designed for the easy addition of future materials.

The article follows:

https://news.uchicago.edu/story/new-uchicago-digital-research-tool-opens-paths-connecting-cultures-and-continents?utm_medium=05.19email&utm_source=UChicagoNews&mkt_tok=MjUwLUNRSC05MzYAAAGh4AzgoUOZsLO-MulJ7Rukz0BjZdsHtSLTeJWU-Q6hYX7ea3Ef_zKXwag9Oi0vLPvzzcyj2Pl5OQ2EzRAQVoBy8rU8Vp-WrOrigM6xUoyOeHq87Xo

Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games