Ballard Street by Jerry Van Amerongen for September 21, 2013

(large version of Bev’s Birthday invitation)

Thanks Linda. You were right…

May I have some of your cake?

Let’s see if can amuse Bev.

BEV!!

Bev, after that peek in your closet and reading your comments over to AC about your old photos I figure you could use some more closet space. So I went down to Dr. Who’s Yurt Mart and dug around in their used TARDIS TARDIS (what you get when you stick a TARDIS inside another TARDIS) and found some good stuff (I hope). Then with the help of some XTI’s sub-contractors we’ve put together the beginnings of your Closet Annex. Since you are already doing some renovations you probably won’t even hear us. The build out hasn’t progressed as fast as I had hoped. The electricians are nervous about wiring places that weren’t there yesterday and the carpenters are going nuts trying to measure rooms that keeps changing size. They end up spending most of their time in the Anteroom which they’ve turned in to a break area (see picture below).

Here’s a shot of some of the workers… ah… testing… that’s it testing the hot tub temperature control.Break Area

Here’s another shot of the anteroom with different wall and floor treatments.AnteroomThe guys seem to found a few more toys

And with that i must say, Good Night All.Its bin a long, long day.

Ill rejoin the party in the morning…

HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY BEV! I hope your day is as bright and sunny as you are!

BevHere’s a short tour of your new .closet annexSorry about the quality but I’m trying something new (to me at least).

Wow, X….

Bev! I’m decorating as fast as I can….

Your cake will be here soon….

I like the robot door openers….

…and the Chandelier room…

drinks, anyone?

And Bev, what could be just around that corner?

Hors d’oeuvres are ready, everybody!

FYI, That’s not a hovercraft. It’s a backpack flying device BFD. (unless of course you really want a hover craft on your birthday)

Ok everybody…..

Here it comes……

Ready to make a wish, Bev?

Possibly a bigger view

JUST FOR YOU BEV!

‘nanner pudding

A Chocolate fountain is necessary is it not?

surprisingly the guys seemed to like the champagne fountain

Thanks…. but so is your invitation, Stel!

@ SusanOH MY! the cake is beautiful, did you take lessons? And did the decorations come form the Ballard Frosting and Frappe Shop? I love it!

OK, now that I got it all unloaded, I am gonna go get a drink and brouse and graze…Fenton, a double cranberry and vodka please. Thanks sweetie, and slip me Bevs tab will you? Thanks again…be back around later….

OMG…. wonderful food everybody!

I haven’t even had a chance to unload Elvis….

Thank you Stel and Linda…. and whoever else is feeding me….

I’ve been so busy I’m starved!

to Miss Bev….

Happy Birthday!

Thanks for all the snickerdoodles!!

Love, BatPug

That wallpaper is just for you, Bev… it’s special XTI glitter, of course.

2Old…. my goodness…. people take lessons from ME!

I have a small bakery on Ballard St… plus, I bake some things at my salon or in the Tiki kitchen.

But ever since I was given a pie shop next door to the Tiki for my birthday, I make the pies there, and even have a small staff.

Which reminds me…. I made 23 key lime pies for tonight.

(link for Bev’s gift from StelBel: MacChilds Rolls Royce, larger version)

see DS 2016/09/20

BDayCard4Bevsee DS 2016/09/20

ok I will be back to help clean up and replenish supplies after a short nap…party on BallardDears…see you later…

@Bev, Susan, x_Tech, 2old2readcomics, Linda Dean et al

It’s 3:10 am on the east coast and I’m done in! I’m glad the party is an all week-end affair, so I’ll be back in the very late morning!

This has been a great party, Bev! Can’t wait to see what the rest of it will bring! Good night for now, and…party on!!!

Oh Stel…. did I misss you?

Goodnight!

I know it’s way past your bedtime.Thank you for all your work…

Bev!

Any chance you’re still there?

I have a present for you!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BEV!I couldn’t get here sooner because I was locked out of the comments. I hope you have a wonderful day.

Hi Shika…. did you go?

Happy Birthday Bev. May you have many more.

Well, Bev….. I wanted you to be here for this… but I’ll be in bed soon, and you’ll be back long before I get up…. and I have a gift for you that I’d like you to see as soon as possible.

You know, my little salon, my tomato factory, my bakery and my pie shop keep me busy, but they really aren’t making me rich,cos I try to keep my prices reasonable.

In fact, that’s one reason I still work nights at the Tiki.

But you gave me such wonderful gifts for my birthday…. you even got money from…um… that nice young fellow from… er.. where was that again?

Anyway, I don’t know any relatives of foreign queens or bank presidents from faraway continents…

So I consulted a wise old Turdmunkistani seer…..(She has an office in the basement of the Ballard Kitchen and Bath Shop Surgical Supply Department.)

Hi Dogsniff!

Anyway… for only a small fee, she purchased a ticket for me in Wednesday’s Turdmunkistani Lucky Monkey Lotto….

And I won 2.07 million dollars!Just enough to make an offer on your birthday gift…..and it was accepted!

Well, I do also owe the owners 23,472 haircuts…. but I have a few years to do them.

So…. hope you like it!

And a bit larger

BTW x_Tech helped me tie the bow.

That’s XTI secret-formula color-changing ribbon…. and that many yards of it is kinda heavy.

Hope you save bows to use again.

Ggood for Mrs Neely!

I know I’m not here but I couldn’t let the day go by without saying HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BEVIEK !!Bev drinks on me all weekend. See you Sunday night !

Easy folks. Remember what happened on a previous birthday celebration!

Good morning everyone.Banana Panckes, anyone?

Happy Birthday, Bev!

I see that most of the stuff I might have fetched here has already been brought (and I’m late as I always am by BS time)..LOVED Xtech’s video (but wanted to see what was behind the red curtain)..Bev, I can SEE you’re having a lovely Birthday and I’ll try to find something to add. About the secret passages (and hidden doors) – - I used to find those in the Nancy Drew books. I never hear anything of those now, but I read at least a dozen different ones as a kid. I see now they had various authors. I know I must have read this (because my favorite mysteries were the ones with hidden doors/stairways etc) so this is a different Birthday present (not flashy like a car or huge cake- but those are already here).

It’s a workout day and I just had my juice (and backwashed the pond) but now I’ll have a tiny bit of breakfast to tide me over during working out. and see the Saturday news.

LandslideStart Me UpMy Generation

Raise A Little HellSittin’ On Top Of the WorldI’m Still StandingTurn the Page

…I’m easily distract

Incoming text via satellite uplink from Terdmunkistan:“Hay Bev…!!!! Sari ahm not at the Tiki rite now but yer burpday presint is stuck in cussedems…. An ahm teh importer on rekerd, so ah gits ta anser awl teh kwestchuns to teh frendly cussed Em agents… Hint: make room in yer wok in freezer okey???See ya soon as ah git back, safe sum manner puddin fer me an put a slice of yer cake in top o the fridge…!!Hippo birdies 2 yews..!!!! Monkey out..!!:())

Hmm, wha?…..Uhhhhh…….ooop….sorry fell asleep there, Wow I’m looking out the window (you know the back one in the back corner of the Tiki, overlooking Ballard River ) and there is the exact replica of MacKenzie/Childs’ yacht! With a HUGE bow on top! No wait, its NOT a replica! Whoo Hooo! Bev, this is the bestest birthday party EVER!!!And yes I WILL have some banana pancakes, Happy, Thanks!

When you do an image serch, it pays to keep panning down, and not just grab the first thing that comes along.Sometimes you find a gem…

Hangover &/or Brunch Food Replenishment Srvs are here!

Got to have some deviled eggs…my speciality!

Monkey kindly donated a couple of Yak Rib Roasts just so I could make them prime for the party!

Looks like the cakes are going fast so I whipped up some more finger type desserts…

and since it IS Ballard Street, and Bev is such a lady, I had to include some real Ladies Fingers…

The Champagne and Chocolate Fountains are full and ready for you all to party all day! Hope Bev is enjoying it as much as we are!

Happy Birthday, Bev! I fell asleep again last night, so I missed the turn over. Hope you’re having a happy one!

Bev’s neighbors cats adore her and wanted to help her have a good birthday…

Not that she’s there yet, but Bev sent this to me on my 60th and I think it actually her turn for it!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BEV!

I made you a special cake with lots of sprinkles!

And no birthday party would be complete without some fine champagne and a toast to the Birthday Girl!

And of course, presents.

Snack time:

Brought some more salads…Potato7 Layer SaladCole Slaw

& Brought more Champagne cuz its time to refill the fountain!

Going to the bar and chill out now…am pooped…but ready to parrrrrrr tayyyyyyyyyy!

Fenton hi sugar, can I get just a plain old club soda? Thanks sweetie…and by the way…tell Ling that Bevs tab was already handled please. Heres a couple of fifties hon, and keep the change sugar, I know that 3 drinks is all thats on it, but then, she bought those for Red and Susan, and the other was for our illustrious Sherriff. She really doesnt drink much and what she does is usually paid for before she can get her wallet out. Maybe now that Stel bought her that car, she can hang out with you more….Did you see that car Fenton? Man, can you imagine the wind in your ears as you stuck you head out of its windows?!?! What a cool ride! Are you gonna go on the cruise to Equador to see Ling in her new Yacht? I have a small bag packed and two brand new credit cards burning a hole in my pocket. I am sooo ready to cruise again! Gonna go play the jukebox sugar…be back later…gonna cruise the snacks too…want anything?…ok Prime Yak Rib bones it is…brb…

Hey Fenton, heres your prime rib bones sweetie…yes, I love deviled eggs…do you really think 7 of them is too many?…ah well, I love them…and these little shrimp eggrolls too…I am saving room for the chocolate fountain…and yes, I do have an appointment Monday morning with a new physical therapist….she will just have to take my bloated chocoholic self like I am…full of chocolate, eggs, and champagne….wheeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Birthday Beviek!

Sorry, I slept in!

Is there room for one more on the cruise? I can pack a small bag so I don’t take up a lot of room.

You are welcome bev!

Linda I LOVE All those salads, but POTATO is my FAVORITE!

A BERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY FROM ONE BEV TO ANOTHER.

*@x_Tech(

I know! Let’s make some GOOD OLD SYRACUSE, NEW YORK SALT POTATOES! The Balladeers will LOVE those, with melted butter, and we can wash them down with some COLD BEERS!

8 cups of water

1 1/2 cups of kosher salt (add another cup if using the Diamond Crystal brand)

3 pounds well-scrubbed small red or white potatoes, as uniform in size as possible and with skins on

1 stick butter, cut into pieces

Freshly snipped herbs (optional)

Pepper.

1. Bring salt and water to a boil and add potatoes. Cook until tender, about 25 minutes.

2. Drain potatoes in a strainer and place pot back on stove over medium heat and add butter. When just melted, after about a minute, add potatoes and, if desired, herbs and black pepper. Toss and serve immediately.

They are SO EASY to make!

And SO GOOD TO EAT!

Beer! I knew it needed something.

Fellow Baby, that’s one of the reasons why I’m not up on sweets. I can’t have anything lowering my beer consumption. I am up on beer and spicy food though.

bev, I just finished a pork in a spicy garlic sauce with fried rice and hot & sour soup. I’m stuffed. But, it has helped the beer flow more freely.

The place I order from makes a good hot & sour soup. I always order a large. It tastes just as good the next day.

bev I LOVE Wegman’s. The one in State College is about 30 miles away from me. I wish they would build one here, but the demographics probably wouldn’t support it. But every time I am in State College, if it’s summer, I bring my cooler along! LOL! Gotta stop there!

Fellow Baby as soon as you said what you had for dinner, I KNEW you ordered takeout. LOL! You have mentioned that before. AND I LOVE HOT AND SOUR SOUP! I like most of the soups although most aren’t hot they are still tasty. The Bean Curd soup at one of our restaurants here is quite good, and VERY HOT and tasty!

Fellow Baby, the food is so good at my local Asian joint that I couldn’t possibly conceive of ordering a lousy pizza from one of those pizza chains. Formula pizza that tastes like the cardboard box it came in.

Beats Champagne 8 to the bar…

I’ll take beer over brownies any day of the week, any time of the day.

You know, I really hate it when I see a real good movie on TCM, but find that I can’t buy the movie on DVD. Tonight, I’m referring to The Whole Town’s Talking, with Edward G. Robinson and Jean Arthur.

bev, when I was living in Dallas, I couldn’t find a good Chinese restaurant, and it had me longing for my favorite hot & sour soup from back home. But this is just as good, if not a little better.

If I can find a place that serves a chicken in black bean sauce. That’s another thing I miss. I haven’t seen it on any menu down here.

The first child up sure looks like our Bev

I’m afraid I can’t stay awake any longer….so I hope I get to see that movie at a more convenient time next time so I can see the whole thing. I think the last time I saw it, I caught the end. Tonight I caught the beginning,

Good night, Balladeers.

click on the blue strip above for it to make sense…To those who arent sure of what I am doing, rest at ease, neither am I….

Linda I remember some time back, the pictures of everyone when they were little, at AC. Couldn’t figure out if they were for real or not, but seeing your link, I guess they weren’t. Oh well, I don’t always know what I am doing either! LOL!

I’m heading out as well. Sorry I missed Susan!

AGAIN, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BEV!

Have a sweet peaceful, day/night where ever you all are Balladeers!

Bev, my last gift to you, I know you remember- Washington Square by the Village Stompers

All of a sudden, I’m extremely tired.I’m calling it a night.Night all.Night Mrs. NeeleyGood night Bev. I hope you had fun today.

Sorry I cant continue but I did my best. Love you Bev, you welcomed me as if I were a long last friend. and were the first to do so. Our grandsons share a close birth date and we share becoming Grandmothers at a very close date…we also share a love for comics and the folks who populate go comics…awesome people with hellacious senses of humor…we share a love of our families and our God…I hope we share the friendship I feel…we gotta get together in Chicago and freak the locals out! At least let em know grannies aint that grannified anymore! I hope your Birthday was outstanding and that you enjoy many more!

Oh my gosh Bev, just how many staterooms do you have here? Mine is so cosy and I love the black and white check wallpaper. The bed is so comfy looking, I’m turning in…good night.

I know I missed most of the party, but since I just woke up again, I wanted to drop in to say I hope you had a spectacular day, BEV!!

Too bad all the pictures are blank now. I saw everything last night, but the only pic I can see today is DRY’S sweet kitten with a sparkly cupcake. (Nice job DRY).

If you are here BEV, I’m just grazing on the leftovers. I’ll join you on the cruise too. Maybe the warm weather will relieve this pain.

Bye BEV! Love your Rolls Royce!

Hi 2old2be! Great party, eh?

Good night all.

Yooo hooo… is everybody sleeping?

Sigh…. I always do that!

Shika…. I see all the pictures. I even just refreshed the page.Maybe it’s your phone.

But just in case the pictures DO disappear, Bev, I have the whole page saved up to this point.

Oh! Thank you, Fireman!

Great news, Bev…. just for you, he’s gonna work Sunday afternoon and evening.

Not like his Thursday night shift….. he’s starting and leaving earlier, so he can get up Monday morning… after all, he has to go be a fireman SOME time.

Bev… I’m so glad you’ve enjoyed the party so far….

I’m delighted that you like your cake and your gift… and of course I’ll be on the cruise.

Thanks X and Stel…. and Linda and Dry and Happy and 2Old and everybody else who brought things….

And Gweedo, you old… rascal…. how’d you get out of jail?

Leaving a bit of breakfast set up for the morning arrivals…..

and I bid you all goodnight…. which is already good morning to some of you.

Well I guess the rest of us can forget about the cruise! Gee Stel did you forget anything? Where’s the kitchen sink in all those bags? :-D

Any of that pie left? That, and a cup of coffe, looks like breakfast to me.See y’all tonight, off to work, for now…

Ummmm, I smell bacon, Must be time to get up. Lets see, Bev said the dining room is on the 3rd deck level…..Here we are….Wow Susan must have been up late baking, So many coffee cakes, and eggs and all that fruit. I don’t see anybody else, but I heard most of the other passengers will be coming this morning. Oh look at the beautiful morning, There seems to be a lot of activity down on the dock, a truck just pulled up and is unloading a lot of luggage, a LOT of luggage, Oh its Stel! Hi Stel! Come on up and join me for breakkie. Now what do I want to eat first. Hmmm.

Lovely bunch of pictures. I can only stay on GC for a while (Youtube, FB ditto) as IE is just freezing on me all the time. I’m busy with other stuff (it may be because of some of the places I’ve been online lately, looking for my specifications . . . as it were).

Bev, here’s more on the provenance of the Yankee.Yankee History

And some pics…

I hope by this time we have both amused and confounded Mrs Neeley.

Well, we’ve amused and confounded ME…. ad probably a lot of other people…and if she’s even easier to amuse, I’m sure she’s laughing her head off!

Morning, all!

I kinda thought that cake would be awfully big when I was putting in the 3rd dozen eggs….and pouring it into the 30" layer pans..

It looks like we have enough for half the population of Ecuador!

At least maybe people will be friendly when we greet them with “Hi… have some cake!”LOL

Morning? It’s almost bed time for me here in South Texas, Susan.

Oh, and unlike the Yankee, any beds for grandkids are in some OTHER room (children and pets sleep elsewhere). Although above my bed is a painting of the girls (a-la Renoir) with Cuddles.

Good night, Balladeers.

OK, I had to regen and see that it WAS Mrs Neeley (in the strip) who started all this! So I think somebody needs to tell me it’s time to “say goodnight, Gracie” (from the old Burns and Allen for those of you too young to remember), and I’ll have my double shot of Presidente and Kahlua with some ice water on the side to sip in my bath. I’ll leave AC off as I see temp will continue to drop and I love fresh air.

My last 2 BP readings were in the 130s because I’ve been making some pleasant plans – Good night, Gracie!

HOLY SCHMOLY, enjoy the last hours of summer and look what you miss! GEEZ!

WHERE DO I START? LETS SEE, I DEMAND DEMAND I TELL YOU, TO SEE DERRICK’S BIRTHDAY WISHES TO BEV

Then I WANT A COUPLE OF MOJITOS TO DROWN MY SORROWS THAT IT IS NOW OFFICIALLY AUTUMN!

And after I am done drowning my sorrows, I am ready for the cruise of a lifetime! Here’s my luggage! Do we still have room?

Bev…. ¡Hola!

Glad to see you getting prepared…..

Actually…. my Spanish isn’t great…but I think to be polite we say:

“Encantado de conocerte … ¿Te gustaria un pedacito de pastel?”

That is asking whether they would like it…. ie…

“Delighted to meet you… would you like a little piece of cake…. "

Stel glad you found that Salt Potato recipe interesting enough to post. I was at WalMart today, YES WALMART not by choice, mind you, but I was there! Wish I had my camera, saw some interesting folks! Also saw some interesting fingerling potatoes in their produce dept. which, yes, I bought, and will make salt potatoes with. My salt intake be DAMNED!

@Dry, Walmart people? there is at least one website dedicated to JUST photos of them (and they could live no where else). I have even been there at least twice myself. Hoping to find really large cheap goldfish for my pond (back when it was new) and for a fishing license for youngest son last time he visited (one of the only places State license is sold). I like my fingerling potatoes carved like little . . mushrooms. I may do some for Valentines in 2014 but have not decided on whole menu. I think even 4oz of filet is a bit much for first day out of veg diet. I do want the caviar and HOPE there is watercress with nice thick crunchy stems. I also want to bake myself at least a dozen oysters with some spinach and Reggiano. The rest partially depends on whether I’m dining alone or have to consider the appetite of a man.

DAZZ, A WHOLE WEBSITE DEDICATED TO WALMART PEOPLE? Well that explains all the emails I get with the photos, LOL!

Good night Ballardeers! I just realized what time it is! Sigh, I have work in the morning!

Bev, don’t worry about the luggage. If you run out of space there’s always the…

Bev, don’t worry about the luggage. If you run out of space there’s always More Room in your closet annex.

Bev, I’ve got my luggage here on the dock.

And mine…

325 comments.This is 326.A good weekend…

We’re visiting the tropics, Bev…. what do I need besides suntan lotion?

LOL …OK, don’t worry…. I’m bringing a sarong or two….

And a good thing it is, too, for Mrs. Neeley. If watching Norm read the paper in his monochrome easy chair, and looking at a couple of Madame Deuxcolor’s finest hanging on her wall amuses her, then Dog bless.

BTW, my spelling of the artist’s surname is highly suspect, as is any knowledge of her history I may express. The true expert on Madame is her discoverer, DennisinSeattle.

Come dancing…

https://cleoandcompany .net/september-21-2023/

Good morning Balladeers and Tigressy!!