Gisele MacKenzie, album from the 50s (?). Check out the video of “The Song from Moulin Rouge”.
Gisele MacKenzie, album from the 50s (?). Check out the video of “The Song from Moulin Rouge”.
Over the weekend as I walked towards the Walnut Creek Target entrance (see photo above), I passed by a mother and her children who looked like they were gypsies. At that moment, I saw the mother leap up really high and grab a huge branch from the tree. I did a double take wondering what on earth was going on when I noticed one of her kids climbing the tree. Upon closer look I saw that they were picking what to me looked like unripe plums. I was staring at this scene for a while wondering why they would care about unripe plums when I decided to go up to them and ask. The mother told me it was good and gave me one to try. Indeed they were good. I looked closer and asked her whether they were cherries. No, not cherries but she didn’t know what they were called in English. So I asked her what she calls them and she said in Romanian they are called corcodushe.
It turns out that they are mirabelle plums according to this page. The only inconsistency is that mirabelles are generally yellowish in appearance. Maybe this is a different variety. Or maybe these really are unripe plums? From the wikipedia page:
They are known for being sweet and full of flavour. The fruit is primarily used in jams and pies, and its juice is commonly fermented forwine or distilled into plum brandy. Ninety percent of mirabelle plums grown commercially are made into either jam (70%) or eau-de-vie (20%). The plums are also excellent when eaten fresh.
In Romania, mirabelles are usually eaten before they are ripe. This is when they are sour and hard, but they are still enjoyed all over the country. It is arguable whether or not the fruit is better when ripe.
Maybe Target should can them and sell local Mirabelle plum jam? The next time you’re at the Walnut Creek Target take a close look at these purple trees and see if these are unripe plums or mirabelles. If you see one hanging low enough try it out, they’re quite good.
Can you spot the (mirabelle) plum?
Behold the (mirabelle) plum:
Photo by Flickr user Daniel M. Reck
Yesterday’s news that the Boy Scouts will allow gay scouts to participate in scouting was rather contentious with 60% of the scouting organization supporting the decision. I thought the bay area would show broad support for allowing gay scouting especially considering what recently happened to a gay Moraga teen who was denied being made an Eagle Scout. However one Walnut Creek scout master called it, “a sad day for America’s youth” according to this article from the Contra Costa Times.
So for the Friday question of the day, do you support the decision to allow gay boy scouts?
Last month I posted about missing trees in front of the Apple Store on N. Main St. and now new trees have been planted. Glad to see a little bit of nature added back into the city. Does anyone know what kind of trees these are?
Lamorinda Skate Park
Although my kids are young, I pass by the Lamorinda skate park in Moraga every now and then which got me wondering what there is to do for older kids around here. Walnut Creek has a skate park as well in Heather Farm Park next to the Clarke Swim Center. Check out the details here.
There’s the movie theater in downtown Walnut Creek. Swim clubs abound almost everywhere. What else is there to do if you’re a teenager around here?
Spotted outside a store in Lafayette, the sign says, “No Yogurt allowed in store”. Does this means ice cream and smoothies are ok? 🙂
San Francisco Bay Area
Thursday, May 9th, 2013For 2013’s Bike to Work Day on May 9th, over 200 Energizer Stations will be located along local bike commute routes in all nine Bay Area counties to provide free beverages, snacks, and good cheer to bicyclists. Use the links (below) for maps of Energizer Stations to plan your Bike to Work Day commute.
East Bay Energizer Stations map here.
Ed Ames – My Cup Runneth Over (1967). Spotted at Rainbow’s End thrift store in downtown Walnut Creek.
Some may remember my problem procuring Orbit bubblegum at the Walnut Creek Target. After months and months of Target not stocking Orbit bubblegum flavor I gave up and switched to Trident bubblegum. Since Trident also contains Xylitol which may be good for your teeth I decided to switch permanently to Trident even after Orbit bubblegum finally made its appearance at the Walnut Creek Target. Well, sure enough given my luck, this past weekend they were out of Trident bubblegum flavor! Take a look at the above photo. They stock every flavor under the sun plus Orbit bubblegum but no Trident bubblegum. Is this some kind of joke someone is playing on me?
P.S. I got the Cinammon flavor but it’s burning my mouth. I may need to give up my gum habit for good.
