Japanese Gyoza Dumplings at Raley’s Nob Hill - try ‘em for dinner! By Ruth Paget

I love Japanese gyoza pork and cabbage dumplings.  You can make them in a variety of ways, but I have the best results when I sauté them stovetop.

As a condiment for dipping, you can dunk them in soy sauce or ponzu sauce which is made with soy sauce, mirin wine and citrus.  They are very good with snipped green onions and rice on the side.  Pickles go well with this too for crunch and a fermented, probiotic side.

A link for them at Nob Hill follows:

 https://www.instacart.com/products/73709863-ajinomoto-chicken-gyoza?retailer_id=291&product_id=73709863&region_id=10432246829&utm_medium=sem_shopping&utm_source=instacart_google&utm_campaign=ad_demand_shopping_mixed_catchall_california_evergreen&utm_content=accountid-8145171519_campaignid-19755274999_adgroupid-149557268627_device-m&utm_term=targetid-pla-855649034760_locationid-9031879_adtype-pla_productchannel-online_merchantid-260497098_storecode-_productid-73709863&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=19755274999&gbraid=0AAAAADO98hYoEH_teTS9MYNCzdwsrurf_&gclid=CjwKCAjwq6DQBhBVEiwA4ZD5XO_FmgHRLwXPsI1yTXwQOaSrNe5PZFBPa1bMrwAnhMhVU5_h9KFB6xoCIuAQAvD_BwE

H Mart sells these and you could probably find them at Asia Pacific Market in Marina, California as well.

Happy Cooking!

By Ruth Paget

-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books

-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games

-developer of food and beverage knowledge games

-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center

-creator of French travel and culture games

-writer of 1800+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs

-family genealogist

-developer of 9 music theory games

Salinas Valley Fair Happening Now - May 15 - 17, 2026 reposted by Ruth Paget

Salinas Valley Now, the online sister publication of Monterey County Now, has a great story about this weekend’s fair.

Lots of activities for kids and wine tastings for adults.

A link to the Salinas Valley Now story follows:

https://www.salinasvalleynow.com/2026/05/animals-rides-and-wine-all-come-together-at-salinas-valley-fair/ccec64a6/?utm_source=Monterey+County+Weekly+Newsletter&utm_campaign=999b685ea2-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2026_05_11_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-2bcfee4788-424991269

Have fun strolling in the sun!

Reposted by Ruth Paget

-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books

-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games

-developer of food and beverage knowledge games

-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center

-creator of French travel and culture games

-writer of 1800+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs

-family genealogist

-developer of 9 music theory games

Oppenheimer film lovers book suggestion reposted by Ruth Paget

People who loved the film Oppenheimer and want to know more about the experiments carried out in Los Alamos might enjoy the book Trinity: An Illustrated History of the World’s First Atomic Test by Emily Seyl named for the work done in Los Alamos, New Mexico.

Trinity is published by the University of Chicago Press.  

General Information and purchase information follow:

https://mail.google.com/mail/mu/mp/465/#cv/priority/%5Esmartlabel_promo/19e2ba1413cd6830

Reposted by Ruth Paget

-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books

-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games

-developer of food and beverage knowledge games

-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center

-creator of French travel and culture games

-writer of 1800+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs

-family genealogist

-developer of 9 music theory games

Oleaster (Silverberry) Sightings and Others at Pebble Beach, California by Ruth Paget

Oleaster (Silverberry) And Other Sightings at Pebble Beach, California by Ruth Paget 

On my latest outing to Pebble Beach (California) for organic Peerless coffee at The Market, I used the Google lens app to identify a dense, leaf-packed shrub called an oleaster or silverberry. 

The oleaster can be trimmed to make a hedge for privacy. It blossoms in summer and can grow into a mid-size tree (about 5 to 8 feet). 

The oleaster is popular in coastal areas due to its ability to withstand salt and wind. 

More general information about the oleaster follows: 

https://mygardenlife.com/plant-library/russian-olive-oleaster-elaeagnus-angustifolia

Nursery information and purchase information about the oleaster follow: 

https://www.homedepot.com/p/FLOWERWOOD-2-5-qt-Elaeagnus-x-Ebbingei-Ebbings-Silverberry-Oleaster-Live-Evergreen-Shrub-for-Hedges-and-Screens-1417Q/300800527

Thanks to the Google lens app, I was able to easily identify the oleaster. I checked other websites to make sure I had the right plant. 

The Google lens app has allowed me to add nature photography, nature writing, and gardens walks to my hobby list. I have used field guides in the past to do this, but Google lens speeds up the process considerably. 

I will use Google lens to identify flowers, plants, trees, and animals throughout Pebble Beach now. I already like to visit this spot for bird watching. Pebble Beach has brown pelicans, cormorants, and seagulls in abundance with Great Egrets starting to make appearances on a regular basis. 

Deer and seals also make Pebble Beach home. I enjoy looking at them at a distance and use my phone camera close up zoom app to take photos of them. 

Taking time to learn about the oleaster plant I saw at The Market made me appreciate the organic coffee and all the wildlife at Pebble Beach, California even more than usual. 

Other visitors might enjoy adding plant identification to their Pebble Beach, California outings as well. 

Happy Strolling on the Coast! 

By Ruth Paget

-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons  written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books

-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games

-developer of food and beverage knowledge games

-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center

-creator French travel and culture games

-writer of 1800+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs

-family genealogist

-developer of 9 music theory games

UChicago offers free tuition to students with yearly family income less than $250,000 reposted by Ruth Paget

The University of Chicago is offering free tuition to students with families whose families have $250,000 or less in yearly income.

Details about this program follow:

https://news.uchicago.edu/story/uchicago-will-offer-free-tuition-families-incomes-below-250000-greatly-expanding?utm_medium=05.14email&utm_source=UChicagoNews&mkt_tok=MjUwLUNRSC05MzYAAAGhx2QI0LjSSFLSXEP6CgXf5yJ8kxuCPO5EaGxYwbb2b5fFdfHwvOT12JJdCGwCmfs__95GtvNOK5sWVN2Zk2f4jR88I6Slzh7MAyfzv4133_dsVxk

Reposted by Ruth Paget

-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books

-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games

-developer of food and beverage knowledge games

-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center

-creator French travel and culture games

-writer of 1800+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs

-family genealogist

-developer of 9 music theory games

Chaos, Creativity, Completion on sale by UChicago Press reposted by Ruth Paget

The book Chaos, Creativity, Completion by Martinez and sold by the University of Chicago Press just looks so interesting for all kinds of creators during a time of technological change and economic challenge.

Purchase details follow:

 https://cdcshoppingcart.uchicago.edu/Cart2/ChicagoBook?ISBN=9780226834931&PRESS=CHICAGO&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=BUY%20THIS%20BOOK&utm_campaign=Reader%27s%20Picks%20April%202026

Reposted by Ruth Paget

-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons  written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books

-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games

-developer of food and beverage knowledge games

-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center

-creator of French travel and culture games

-writer of 1800+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs

-family genealogist

-developer of 9 music theory games

Free E-Book for May 2026 from UChicago Press - Big Bosses reposted by Ruth Paget

The University of Chicago Press Free E-Book for May 2026 is Big Bosses: A Working Girl’s Memoir of Jazz Age America.

Information about the book and download details follow:

https://mail.google.com/mail/mu/mp/465/#cv/search/Uchicago/19e031b7867f335d

Happy Reading!

By Ruth Paget

-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5?other Kindle books

-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games

-developer of food and beverage knowledge games

-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center

-creator of French travel and culture games

-writer of 1800+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs

-family genealogist

-developer of 9 music theory games