The Qarsherskiyan people bred a hybrid called Qarsherskiyan Wild Lemon. It's kept protected, the locations of them aren't known and we aren't supposed to talk about them online. They're our replacement of the sacred Etrog (Citrus médica) that grow in our climate better. It is a hybrid between Trifoliate Orange and Meyer Lemon. Hardy to zone 8. They produce fruit a bit smaller than a tennis ball that is slightly fuzzy and a bit more darker orangish instead of the typical yellow of a lemon and they have a sour and bitter aftertaste. They are usually planted by south-facing brick walls within a mile of the Chesapeake Bay in downtown Newport News and Hampton, Virginia, USA. They are on private property and I'm not allowed to publicly disclose the location or they will come after me with legal issues. Qarsherskiyan people consider Trifoliate Orange to be sacred symbol representing the Qarsherskiyan Tribe, with 3 leaflets on each leaf, one for each of the 3 races that mixed with each other to create Qarsherskiyan people: Native American, White, and Black. A delicious treat is made by mixing the orange juice with water and sugar to get rid of the bitter taste. It is called Qarsherskiyan Orangeade.

450 degrees in just a few minutes (could go higher, but that was more than I needed just testing it). I did take a quick look yesterday at the Kirkland model while picking up food and a grill utensils for Memorial day. Noted the folded metal corners, screws, etc. which made me more appreciative of the Virco quality in welded stainless steel (lid, lip, etc..) that they ground to a perfect edge and fit. One minor thing that I did not like were how easy the utensil hooks can swing out. I will look for a rubber gromet or something like that to slide over the end to keep them in place. Did I mention this unit is heavy? Not near the 450 lb that the Costco claimed, but Virco did not skimp on stainless steel. Double wall doors, lid that feels immense, and a minor detail, but I really like the stainless steel skirt at the bottom as it makes it look permanent vs. portable (even though it has locking casters), and how about that cover bsbbq?! Fully insulated with velcro ties. For those interested, Costco has a Hoffritz (hoffritz.com)6 pc. stainless-steel and black santoprene (like rubber) grill set that includes a large turner, tongs, biiiig fork tipped knife, grill brush, basting brush, and a 10 x 16" (I think) grid grill. Sorry to push Costco, but I checked Walmart while getting some other stuff, and just two pieces (with wood handles) were more, so I am glad I waited.

we have the clouds and 70, but the rain isn't due in til night...did my walking today at meijers and actually remember a couple of items i've forgotten for 2 days, lol.. will have a full weekend and have to get the bath's cleaned...all the beds have clean sheets...besides mother's day, we're celebrating my only dgs's 4th bday...just saw his proposed party (pic-nick, cute right?) is suppose to be rainy...thank goodness, dd2 has a big enough house! with all the grands, parents and us, that's 17 alone...not mention his other grandparents, and friends... i so envy your ability to make a pie...i could never master a crust worth eating, although the fillings were good, lol.. you did remind me of ever present laundry...most is done but have a bunch to put away...

This is the 3rd in a series of 4 photo tours of Public California Garden Spots in the Silicon Valley Area. It is being reposted here using thumbnails to satisfy demand for viewing by folks who have only dial-up modems and were unable to tolerate loading photo links to photobucket.com. Click on Thumbnails to Enlarge Them Hakone Gardens is just above and beyond Monte Sereno and Saratoga, satellite cities of San Jose. You take the California 9 exit west from the 17 at Los Gatos. The Gardens are on the slopes of the Santa Cruz Mountains as the 9 winds up to Skyline, a road that runs along the ridges from the South Bay, all the way to San Francisco. Unlike San Jose's Friendship gardens which are administered by the city, Hakone Gardens has been restored by a private foundation with help from Santa Clara County's Parks and Recreation. It has more buildings and noteably, lots of bamboo. There are some steep climbs, but not far. Flowers are plentiful in the garden. Black Bamboo ... Sorry, it's out of focus and I should have gone back and reshot, but didn't. I have a fondness for Iris. The following flower has a very pleasant spicy aroma ... Shucks! The drinking fountain is out of order ... Rock surfing ... Plant Labels for new seedlings heh heh! Another Plant Label? And the Rock Surfer Dudes are still playing out the waves ... This old lamp not only lights the path ahead, but you can stop and fry and egg on it if you get hungry ... "I really don't know if they eat turtles, but I think we should hang out for a while until they go away!" This is definitely not Kyoto. In Kyoto, they still have the red buckets as a common sight for putting out fires ... An indication that cuneiform writing had its origins in the grafitti pronouncement of an unrequited love ... Cuneiform writing however, has since evolved ... Under the bam, under the boo ... That's all folks! After a long day of relaxing in Japanese Gardens, it was time for the Bear to go haunt a Sushi Restaurant. I hope you all liked the pics. Black Bamboo ... Sorry, it's out of focus and I should have gone back and reshot, but didn't. I have a fondness for Iris. The following flower has a very pleasant spicy aroma ... Shucks! The drinking fountain is out of order ... Rock surfing ... Plant Labels for new seedlings heh heh! Another Plant Label? And the Rock Surfer Dudes are still playing out the waves ... This old lamp not only lights the path ahead, but you can stop and fry and egg on it if you get hungry ... "I really don't know if they eat turtles, but I think we should hang out for a while until they go away!" This is definitely not Kyoto. In Kyoto, they still have the red buckets as a common sight for putting out fires ... An indication that cuneiform writing had its origins in the grafitti pronouncement of an unrequited love ... Cuneiform writing however, has since evolved ... Under the bam, under the boo ... That's all folks! After a long day of relaxing in Japanese Gardens, it was time for the Bear to go haunt a Sushi Restaurant. I hope you all liked the pics.