40 years ago JULY 5th; I climbed these stairs to the alter at SAN MINIATO al MONTE BASILICO in Florence, Italy.

The etching behind us was an unfinished drawing by; I think MICHELANGLO.

Anyone out there know for certain?Please correct me if I am WRONG!

The stairs were too high for me to step up so we HIKED THE DRESS UP!

THAT WORKED THANKS TO DARYL ;THE MAN GIVING ME AWAY who was my boss at the time!

FUN FACT!I am now 50 pounds heavier and TWO INCHES SHORTER!!

This was not rehearsed, so the fact we all were lined up perfectly is a MIRACLE!

THE HYDRANGEAS KEEP ON GROWING here at my home.

They have never been so LARGE.

THAT MAKES TWO OF US!!

My plate of PASTRIES made by the cutie pie beside me!

HAVING FUN in THE SUN THESE TWO!

The lettuce and zucchini have been VERY BOUNTIFUL!

The beans are just coming into their own now for side dishes.

The zucchini has been ABUNDANT!

It is hard to get this photo, but the BUTTERFLY BUSH was SPECTACULAR this year!

We have hacked it back the last two years as there were hardly any blooms and it WORKED!

THANK YOU SHARI!

AN ENGLISH ROSE………..with a mild wonderful scent.

Tigre reaching out for my FOOT and holding on during TV TIME!

Tigre being THE MAN of the HOUR!

She can do anything to him and he takes it!

Absolutely beautiful to see how calm he is and happy.

TIGRE IS A PEOPLE PERSON!

HE is a very social CAT.

ONWARD TO MY HEALTH NEWS:

I have gotten some GOOD NEWS FINALLY.Both of my doctors are back in the office.

Lung doctor had me take the PULMONARY FUNCTION TEST AGAIN and it is much IMPROVED.

Cardiologist, saw me and had me take the 6 MINUTE WALKING TEST which I failed, but she blamed on her assistants who set it up as I was just fine.(OXYGEN DROPS)That will be happening again next week.My PVC’s in my heart beat have gone down so that is WONDERFUL NEWS.

It has been confirmed that I would not qualify for a HEART TRANSPLANT now by two cardiologists!!!

SO, that is OUT OF THE QUESTION.Seems my LUNGS would not make it through…………always a NEW REVELATION in MY JOURNEY of health issues!

I am happy about that as I really did not want to go through a procedure like that.Some of you may recall the Heart Valve Repair 16 years ago come September!I did not POP back to LIFE right after that. It took its toll on me.

SO, now the only option is the MEDICATIONS!!

They NEED TO WORK THEIR MAGIC FOR ME!

Which I have been on these last 3 years raising dosages as we go; as I get ALL THE SIDE EFFECTS they offer………..so it has been real SLOW GOING.I think I mentioned I am going to CARDIAC REHAB three times a week, which I do find enjoyable.I have been held back a few times now as my heart was showing WONKY ACTIVITY which makes all the bells and whistles GO OFF!

The EYE EPISODES made an appearance recently after a ONE YEAR absence!Which took TWO visits to the Cervical Spine DOC.I know why it came back; I rolled over on my side and went to sleep, which has been proven a BIG NO, NO for me!Hopefully,I can refrain from repeating that in the future!It happened when I was dead asleep!

COLONOSCOPY FINDINGS:THREE ADENOMAS which are “benign (noncancerous) tumors that originates in glandular or epithelial tissue, which lines organs and glands throughout the body.”I was also told I have a very curvy colon!Especially at the top so two of these BUGGERS were hard to get to but he did it!The DOC REMOVED and put a clip on the area, which the used clips will just disintegrate!!I GO BACK IN THREE YEARS.Last time I did this 3 years ago; I was told I had POLYP’S now I have graduated to ADENOMAS.

They can turn into CANCER I was told if left untreated.

THAT is your NEW WORD OF THE DAY ADENOMAS…………so if the heart and lungs don’t KILL ME I can count on the COLON doing the job!

(I HAVE TO LAUGH AT IT OTHERWISE I WILL ROLL UP IN A BALL AND JUST SCREAM.I mean NO DISRESPECT to any of you who have LOST LOVED ONES due to these sicknesses.)

FOOD WE HAVE EATEN THIS JULY CONSISTS of LETTUCE FROM OUR GARDEN AND ZUCCHINI and the FLOWERS TOO!To make these delicious Fritters you will need to slice zucchini rounds thin and put in bowl with salt so the water drains.Leave for 30 minutes.Put about half a cup of flour and Parmesan cheese in a bowl together.Add salt and pepper.Add one egg and some water to make a batter.I’m guessing about 1/4 of a cup.Rip up some basil and add to the mixtures.You do not want the mixture super liquid, more like a cake batter.Dump dried zucchini in batter and MIX then FRY.Use a tablespoon or bigger to make your FRITTERS.

This recipe was found on INSTAGRAM under the name ROCCOBUFFON.

He calls them FRITTELLE di ZUCCHINE.

DELICIOUS!

THOSE ITALIAN’s KNOW HOW TO EAT!BY THE WAY MY ITALIAN DID ALL THIS FOOD with the exception of MY SALAD!He did grow and pick the LETTUCE and wash it so he might as well have put it TOGETHER TOO!

Who can name this type of PASTA?

This is made with a scallion, Creme Fraiche and fresh tomatoes passed to a liquid, zucchini and some basil.Add parmesan to serve along with cut up zucchini flowers.

SEE BELOW!

Beautiful and Delicious.

Main course was SEA BREAM dressed with parsley, garlic, capers and anchovies sprinkled with olive oil.

These BEASTIES were set in foil individually and cooked at 325 degrees for about 30 minutes.

PESTO MAKING FOR THE YEAR………….we made LESS this year than in years past.One has to de-stem each and every leaf without getting the flower of the basil either.These two bowls took us over two hours.Closer to three hours then the process begins with the pine nuts and walnuts and olive oil.Then we POP the jars in the freezer!

That is all from me TODAY!Hope you all enjoy this MONTH as much as I plan too!I turn another year older which seems UNREAL!We watched a series on APPLE TV called SHRINKING which I LOVED once I got into it!Have you notice TV watching has gotten SO STUPID!LAST NIGHT we watched HUNTING HOUSEWIVES………….GOOD GOD THAT WAS AWFUL!I kept waiting for one of the HOUSEWIVES BOOB TO POP OUT!They had those straps so TAUNT on her shoulders you know they left marks!I have NEVER watched a HOUSEWIFE SHOW and if you watch this I think I know why now!

BE WELL.SOAK up the kids and the family this 4th of July and make sure your PETS are INDOORS!

I WISH YOU ALL A BEAUTIFUL SUMMER or WINTER WHEREVER YOU RESIDE!

Thanks for BEING HERE.

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XXX

YOUR CONTESSA