Isn't this the sweetest sight?  Tye surveys her territory, making sure nothing untoward has occurred in the evening hours.  The bees are waking up, the sun is creeping into the yard.  The lawn, just mowed, is such a rich carpet of one of hundreds of thousands (I think) shades of green.

 

I have to confess to being the laziest gardener EVER.  Okay, I DID build the raised beds, and last year I DID plant lettuce.  But last year it did not come up, or if it did, I don't remember it in my treatment fog.

 

But look at this!  A perfect head of lettuce, just waiting for me.  I did NOT plant it (this year).  I did NOT weed the bed.  I did NOTHING, and look what I get!  Isn't that the craziest thing?

 

We make dinners to go Monday through Friday.

 

Call 252-1500 by noon or so and then come pick up your dinners between 3 and 7, when we close. Add a salad for 3.25 or bread for 1.25.

 

Monday, May 28 Closed for Memorial Day

 

Tuesday, May 29

Elsie’s Chicken Baked in Wine with Broad Noodles 8.25

 

Wednesday, May 30

Grilled Pork Spareribs and Collards 7.95 (GF)

 

Thursday, May 31

Meatloaf with Mashed Potatoes 7.50

 

Friday, June 1

Call by noon and then come pick up between 3 and 7

 

Wednesday, May 30

Eggplant Parmesan

Whole: 40 Half: 20

 

  Friday, June 1

  Spinach and Artichoke Lasagna

  Whole: 38  Half: 19

My friend Danny's market stand is loaded with these beauties.  The brightest, sweetest, loveliest packets.  I have a little basket next to me as I write.  If anyone comes into the office they get one.  But on Saturdays its usually just me, so it is mostly me that is responsible for the diminishing supply.  Hmmm.  I don't think they will make it home.  Nope, I'm pretty sure they won't. 

 

And speaking of berries, here's Marty with a very pretty version of Strawberry Rhubarb cobbler.  I don't know about you, but I adore that combination.  Marty offered me the picture, but he did not give me any of the actual dessert.  I guess the client would not be happy to see a big spoonful missing, right? 

 

True confessions:  I had a strawberry-rhubarb "hand pie" at the market this morning, so you don't need to be mad at Marty, nor do you have to feel sorry for me. 

 

Okay - back at home again.  These grace my front steps.  This spring has been so good for the gardens.  Even I, a lazy gal, have a riot of color right outside my front door. 

 

Our friend John kept the devilled egg-makers very busy in the days when he rode his Harley to lunch every day.  He inspired our name for these bites. 

 

May 26, 2012

 

Good morning to you from my desk in my shop on my street in my town. All is good today. I’ve already been to the market, listened to some fine fiddle tunes, greeted a bunch of farmer friends, arranged for our first farmer dinner (June 27 – hold the date, I’ll tell you more next week), said hello to some clients from here and there, and generally filled up with a week’s worth of good wishes and “gosh you look great” comments.

 

I have a terrific weekend in store for myself:

 

For one thing I plan to ride my bike a couple of times. Now that I am getting back my strength, I am in active training mode for my Livestrong bike ride. Incidentally, I found out I am one of the top 15 fundraisers for the ride so far and have already qualified for a second bike jersey, a new helmet (in Livestrong yellow!) and also a new pair of Livestrong bike glasses. If I manage to become the top fundraiser I get a brand new bicycle. Imagine that!

 

But the main activity is to finish my book!!!! I am delighted to report that after a bang-up week in the kitchen and at my computer I have completed ALL the recipes. All are written. All are tested. All are done. I have just one more piece to write but that’s next on my list today. Other than that I have some parts of the appendix to do, but that is not hard – just a matter of doing it.

 

Then I will carefully go through the entire manuscript a couple more times. One proofreader has returned a marked-up copy for my perusal and I intend to put in her suggestions. I also have a marked-up version of my own and those corrections need to go in too.

 

The whole thing is due on Friday. My intention is to send it all out on Tuesday.

 

What a thrill. What a thrill to realize that this project, this part of this project, is almost done. And, as I think about it and remember that I got the call about selling the book on the same day I found out I needed 6 months of chemotherapy and a number of surgeries, well, it is simply stunning to realize that I did both this past year. Got through this enormously difficult health challenge AND wrote a book. Zounds!

 

And then there is the next week to think about. We’re reconfiguring things in the front of the café, as you might have noticed. We’re adding more seating, a fun community table, for one thing. We’re working on new signs. We’re opening things up and giving ourselves a bit of a new look, freshening our logo, and generally bringing ourselves up to date.

 

Me too. I’m believing, with more and more confidence, that I’m really okay and that I will be okay for a good while. The other day when I had my check up, my doctor come into my room and asked his assistant, who had been doing the review of me, how I was. They spoke briefly as she reported good things, good numbers, good levels, good markers. His face conveyed more than words could and his portion of my check-up turned into a visit between friends, not one involving a patient and her doctor. That, more than anything, made me breathe, breathe, breathe so deeply.

 

Now that I am better (yay!!!!) I thought it time to commemorate this year with a purple heart, know what I mean?  This one is inspired by the Mexican folk art "milagros" and it is now a permanent part of my tattoo "Charm Vine."

 

I'm riding across Iowa in July, as you know, to help other cancer survivors.  This image will be on my bike jersey (once we get them in you can order one too - funds will support Livestrong at the YMCA). 

 

There is still plenty of time for you to join my bike team and support my efforts for Livestrong, Lance Armstrong's foundation for cancer survivorship.  Follow the link right here and you'll get to the right spot.