Thanks for reading mmm-yoso!!! on this week of preparation, travel and beginning of holiday celebrations. Cathy is writing today. The guys (Kirk and ed(from Yuma)) are very busy.
This past Saturday was a busy (and exciting) day for us. The Mister and I woke early, let the dogs out, drove North, encountered rain and sunshine and got to Pasadena to enjoy the final day of Rose Parade float road testing before the actual parade (photos at the end of this post) and then drove North on Arroyo Seco, headed East on Orange Grove and saw this signage…and had to stop. 
I liked the font…and right there on the corner of Orange Grove and North Los Robles, an angled building, to allow for drive through access while ordering from the passenger side of your vehicle- 
Dena Burgers looked like a place to investigate. 
Walk in, order and pay at one window, 
and pick up at the other window. 
We decided to go by the name of the place, and ordered a Breakfast Burger ($5.25)- a 1/4 pound burger, egg, cheese, lettuce, tomato and hash browns on a toasted bun. It was large and tasty, but kind of dry and we each added some ketchup at some point in eating our respective half.
A Machaca and eggs plate ($5.50) as well as some very good (Gavina) coffee completed this meal. The fresh tomato and crisp bell pepper as well as onion cooked with eggs and beef to a crusty brown, was really good (The salsa and onions on top were added from the condiment bar at the pick up window). The rice and beans were unusually tasty and the fresh, warm corn tortillas were a bonus.
Dena Burgers 445 E. Orange Grove Blvd. Pasadena, CA 91104 (626) 792-7035
When we finished, we walked across the parking lot to this grocery store. 
Baja Ranch Supermarket was magical. I didn't take many photos inside, because it was quite crowded. There is a large steam tray area, deli area, excellent meat/poultry/seafood selection, tortilleria, bakery and produce area. There were extensive displays of chiles being sold here- dried in bags, in bulk and fresh. There items sold here include Mexican as well as Peruvian, Cuban and Salvadorean…and some American staples. We spent $21 and filled five cloth bags we had brought from home (this part of LA County charges for grocery bags).
Baja Ranch Supermarket 475 Orange Grove Blvd, Pasadena 91101 website
We continued East, got to Sierra Madre Boulevard and 
stopped at the Pasadena Farmers Market again.
We chose a few seasonal items…
Pasadena Certified Farmers Market, Sierra Madre at Paloma, next to Pasadena High School website
Then we headed East on the 210…and, remembering that H Mart was opening in San Diego that day, decided to check out what we figured would be an uncrowded H-Mart located close to where we were… 
Upon entering the Diamond Bar location of a Super H Mart and turning to the right, 
we encountered a large Food Court area… which included this little franchise-Deli Manjoo 
which has a window where you can watch this conveyor belt baking system 
making sweet treats. We were given samples fresh off the griddle! You can get a mix of eight for $3… 
You can see the walnut shapes are filled with red bean paste as well as a walnut. For Lucky Fish we chose two filled with custard and two filled with cream cheese. Deli Manjoo Website
We also picked up savory treats at The Tous les Jours franchise. Excellent and so very fresh! The young ladies working here were very helpful and the selection was amazing. Website
There were other vendors in the food court area..and small shopping areas on other walls of this large store- then there was the H-Mart store itself. 
Clean, fresh, friendly. One thing we noticed that the ladies giving samples were set up at the aisle ends, which were specifically sample areas- outlets on the floor so electric pans could be easily heated for sampling. Combined with the available items in the 'regular' food aisles, H Mart is a great store. I can't wait to visit "ours". Generic H Mart website link.
Since it is Thanksgiving, we needed to pick up our smoked ham, or "meat by the side of the road" as I have fondly termed it. 
Once again, the Valley Center Optimists have their trailer set up in front of Fat Ivor's and are selling smoked hams (whole and half) for Thanksgiving. They will also be selling hams for Christmas and Easter. We wait for this time of year to be able to purchase this ham.
Here is a cross section view of the smoked half ham ($35). My friend from Valley Center, Ms. T., picked hers up and warmed it so The Mister and I could have a slice when we drove by to pick up ours. Valley Center Optimists 760-390-4173
Oh. So this day began with the last day to see 2013 Rose Parade floats do their final road test of the year. I've posted about previous road test days…all the floats need to pass three tests before being allowed to drive down Pasadena streets on New Years Day. 
When we got here, the Lions Club float was finishing the test drive. 
The Honda float, very long and intricately detailed was parked and waiting in line to be tested. Those are steps leading to a slide that people will be sliding on during the five mile long parade route. 
Here's a better view of the slide. 
Here's an unusual view of another float…
and another float from a high viewpoint…
and here is another perspective of the front of the Honda float (see the slide?).
Those viewpoints are from above ground, because I was standing on-ON- the front of The Lutheran Hour float! Yes, The Mister and I were asked to participate in the road test and fire drill.
Here's the float after the fire drill. It had started to rain when we were testing…but had to pretend there was a fire anyhow.
We've never made a "Bucket List" of things we wanted to do, but if we had, this would've been on it- and checked off!
If anyone wants to know about volunteering to decorate a Rose Parade float, information is available HERE.
I hope everyone has a non-hectic week ahead.
#GoBlue