It's never to early to start being an inspiration.  Henry, the child of our Adam and Emily, is one of mine.  Now a very healthy 4 year old wild man, he underwent two bone marrow transplants early in his life.  Now he is in great shape and id going to do the "Tot Trot" at the Be The Match run in Charlotte at the end of September.  you can join his team and help him reach his goal of $500.00.  

 

This is Scott, one of the farmers at Firefly Farms in Celo.  Firefly Farms is our featured farm for our next Dinner and Conversation with our Farmers on Thursday, October 4.  You'll get to have a great dinner and will also learn how and why Scott and Elizabeth do what they do.

 

We're going to do a wonderful old-fashioned fall dinner with their produce and bounteous produce.  They raise heritage breeds of animals and heirloom vegetables.  I credit them with saving Candy Roaster Squash from oblivion.  (I'm not sure if that's true, but I believe it...)

 

Monday September 17

Chicken Tetrazzini with Linguine 7.95

 

Tuesday, September 18

Spinach Crepes 7.25

 

Wednesday, September 19

Steak Fajitas with Guacamole 8.75

 

Thursday, September 20

Chicken with Herbed Dumplings 7.95

 

Friday, September 21

Blackened Mississippi Catfish with Tricolor Slaw 8.95

 

Casserole to go:

 

Wednesday, September 19

(with Hickory Nut Gap Beef)

Whole: 59 Half: 29.50

 

Lasagna to go:

Friday, September 21

Whole: 38 Half: 16

 

These are some of the beauties grown by our Firefly Farms friends.  For our dinner and conversation I think we'll do something that will give you a taste comparison of the various peppers they grow.

 

Here's another one.   Jimmy Nardellos.  Can't you just imagine what the guy looked like?  Mr. Nardello.  Spiffy in a perky little hat and a thin moustache and a big attitude.  Hmpf.  Who knows.

 

We're now in the process of changing all our old signs to new ones.  And trust me, the old ones are EVERYWHERE!  Our friend Michael, of Speed Graphics, is our man on the job, putting up with all the voices who have an opinion here, and turning our combined thoughts into really nice graphics.

 

Did you know that you can now park at the city parking lot at the Aloft hotel?  The first hour is free and then it is only 1.00 per hour after that.  It is VERY convenient to us and you don't have to do any jockeying for position in our parking lot.  It's perfect for us and I hope you take advantage of it too.

 

 

September 15, 2012

 

Hmm. It has been an interesting week. The kickoff was a call from the bike shop telling me my new bike had arrived. What a sweet treat. Top fundraiser. Big prize. I got to be excited when I heard that I might win, and that I did win, that my new bike was on its way and that it was here. It is in my car, being carried around with me as a reminder about what is to come. What is here right now is a bit of a challenge, but this is a fine reminder that it will not last forever.

 

The second biggest thing for me this week is that my hair is leaving my head. I had been told it would get thin, and it did just that during my last round of chemotherapy. This regimen is different and I had thought, hoped, that I would get away without anything more dramatic than last time. But a couple of weeks ago hair began falling out and in a very short time I was looking very shaggy and sparse. I got my hair cut very short this past week but I think I’m going to have to do an even shorter buzz.

It’s funny how much I am attached to my hair. I’ve seen plenty of my friends lose their hair and I can say, “It’s just hair. It will grow back,” like the best of them. But it is very different now that it is happening to me. With hair it is easy to travel under the cancer radar. But with no hair it is very apparent that I am in treatment. And as public a life as I lead, and as forthcoming as I am about all sorts of things, this is a difficult thing to be comfortable with.

 

A friend of mine, in my Livestrong at the YMCA class, talked about losing her hair and that it is just a very hard thing. Women are supposed to have hair. So much of our identity is based around our hair – whether we like it or not. I don’t think of myself as someone who is terribly caught up in my appearance (well, I do have a style, I know…) but this turn of events is difficult for me.

 

Not much more to say about that. I will not get a wig. I will be wearing hats more. And my hair will grow back eventually.

 

In other news – um…photos for my book are continuing. We have full day shoots every other week for awhile now. Tomorrow is the first food specific shoot. It’ll be fun. I hear that the creative director at the publishing company is very happy with the first round of snaps. I am too. What a delight to have this project to occupy my thoughts during this “interesting” time of my life.

 

And next week I am going to New York City for a sister/niece theatre weekend. That’ll be a nice break and I’m looking forward to having the time with my family.

 

I’ll be in touch next week. In the meantime – take care.

Ciao,

Wowee zowee! 

 

I got my new bike last week.  It is VERY light, VERY slick, VERY swanky.  So far I have ridden it in the Liberty Bikes parking lot and boy I was FAST!!!!!  I'm planning to take it out on the road this week.