Cousins, Bike Rides, Good Foods, Good Friends and Good Times!

Please bear with

me as I get used to this layout, I have all the pictures and text mixed up, but I think you can figure out who is who and what is what!! ENJOY!!













Introducing Lulu and Delilah's (first) cousins;
Nicolas & Kiana Reno and Delphina &

Cooper Dong!

Delphina & Cooper live on the other side of Golden Gate Park, so we are fortunate to be able to play with them often, meeting them at the playground is a favorite! Nico & Kiana live in Oakland, across the Bay Bridge. Not as easy to visit, especially when the darn Bridge is closed, but we really love going over and having picnics in the backyard and shopping at the Farmer's Markets!

Lulu loves being picked up at School on the bikes! We often take a nice sunset ride along Ocean Beach before heading home to prepare dinner and play with little sister Delilah, who has reached the 10# mark!

Outside Lulu's School are a few Calla Lily's (Grandy's Favorite flower!), they also grow wild all over the park, so beautiful! Whenever Lulu spies one, she says, "there is Grandy's favorite flower!, what would she say if she saw it here?".

I had the chance to go out to Dinner with my good friend Robin last Thursday, we went to Magnolia Pub and Brewery on Haight Street, check them out on the web, nice food, kinda reminds me of my style of cooking for any 151 fans out there! We started off with their house made assorted pickles, that night the plate included, zucchini, summer squash, turnip and cucumbers, they were delicious! The squash were delicately sliced thinly so they melted in your mouth, the Japanese style white baby turnips provided a nice crunch, but could have sat in their brine a bit longer for my taste buds. The cucumbers had the right balance out of all the veggies presented. I can almost never forgo beets, and I am so glad I ordered the roasted beet and frisse salad! YUM! Lightly dressed in a simple vinaigrette with toasted pistachios nuts, what a treat, and velvety clouds of silky goat cheese, HEAVEN!

For our Entrees, we shared the roasted bbq chicken, bacon and cheese pizza, ok, good flavor, but the crust, although thin and crisp, lacked that nice yeasty flavor I desire. The other entree was the house made gnocchi(they might have been a day old, however, when given the chance for fresh pasta, no major complaints!) swimming with brown butter, wild mushrooms, roasted butternut squash cubes, bacon and fresh ricotta cheese; dreamy. We each had a Kolsch beer, served in a thin tall glass that went perfectly with our meal. We had a sweet server named Katie, the ambiance was nice, a bit loud by the end of our meal though......they do a kickin' Brunch!

I've included some photo's of our visit with Uncle Mark (Michael's Brother). We checked out his new apartment in Russian Hill on Jackson Street, a lovely home he has created and decorated for himself! Can't wait for his Holiday Party! We shopped on Polk Street and had some Thai food for lunch. While we were in one shop Lulu spied some Blow Pops and flashed her pearly whites and batted her almond eyes and behold! That pop found its way to her mouth! Lucky Lulu, usually it's only Grandpa who gives her those treats! She was so excited, she exclaimed, "what would Grandpa say if he saw me with this lollipop?"!

I've included a picture of Mike & Mike outside the house they are working on-HOT & HANDSOME!! Also some pictures from our visit to Auntie Nay Nay's "Castle" last night for Dinner, a great time!

Another gorgeous day here in the Bay Area, so I am off to play! Til next time, lots of love form the DDF! (Damon Dong Family)!!!!!