Up Close

Up Close

Noel Laflin

2-20-20

A few years ago a beautiful hawk nearly flew into my car. Had he been just a few inches lower in trajectory, and had my window been rolled down just a bit more, well, I would have been wearing that fellow firmly impaled in the left side of my face.

You see, he was literally on the heels of a jackrabbit crossing a lonely stretch along a narrow canyon road. I came upon the chase while rounding a gentle curve. The rabbit was barreling across the two lane road, heading for thick brush against the hillside, and that hawk was about three feet behind him. I was fast approaching the sure-to-be nab when Jack dove into a protective bush a nanosecond ahead of outstretched talons.

Well, the hawk put on the wing brakes, flipped himself around in an amazing midair somersault and zoomed directly back my way as I passed by.

We stared at one another, that proud raptor and me, and like I said, had he miscalculated his rise by an inch or so, it would not have been pretty - window up or down.

But I got to tell ya, they are magnificent looking creatures up close.

Precautions

Precautions

Noel Laflin

2-18-20

I just checked the garden to make sure the tiny wildflower seeds I recently planted over the last week or so are undisturbed. I looked carefully for bird footprints and sharp little holes in the soil. There were none. Yay.

I took this precaution so as not to be disappointed when nothing sprouts, as did happen years ago when a towhee stealthily followed me – unbeknownst to me, of course – as I carefully planted Giant Russian Sunflower Seeds. He dug up and ate every single one. I found this out when I attempted the same task a couple of weeks later as the same culprit was caught sabotaging me once again. Then I wised up and planted the seeds under a covered planter on the patio and transferred the sunflower babies when they were six inches tall.

Now, the wildflower seeds most recently planted (lupine, bachelor buttons, etc.) are about 1/50 the size of Giant Russian Sunflower Seeds, but one can never be too cautious with the likes of clever towhees

Crème brûlée

 Crème brûlée

Noel Laflin

2-9-20

I found a pristine book of matches gathering dust on a shelf in the garage today. Le Biarritz in Newport Beach was my first introduction to French cuisine nearly 40 years ago. Wasn’t crazy about escargot, but fell in love with Crème brûlée ten years later, when my old friend and boss, Rick Nicholson, suggested I have one. I liked it so much I asked if I could have another. As Rick was buying, why not? He happily complied.

It’s strange to find this today as Rick has been on my mind quite a bit lately; we are coming up on one year since his untimely passing.

And the restaurant is no longer Le Biarritz either; it hasn’t been in years.

But I am grateful for the small find today as a reminder of a happier time
.
Here’s to Crème brûlée, and more importantly, to you, boss.