It is market time again here in Asheville.  I bought a couple of bags of herb starts and some pretty geraniums and an apricot pastry.  I may get a new fig tree - next week.  I got a bag of teeny little carrots at our Wednesday market.  I've decided to stop eating candy (a rough decision) but the baby carrots did the trick.

 

I got myself up the other day and tucked my new babies into the pots next to my front door.  The geraniums are dark and bright red which will look nice next to these bright pansies. 

 

On my back deck I have light purple pansies and am going to plant light pink geraniums.  They are so pretty in the morning light.  I'm going to put my new herbs in among all these sweet colors.

 

 

 

Monday, April 8

Chicken Croquettes with Applesauce 8.95

 

Tuesday, April 9

Portobello Mushroom Marsala with Mashed Potatoes and Kale 7.95

 

Wednesday, April 10

Bistro Steak with Spinach and Cornbread Stuffing 10.95

 

Thursday, April 11

Asian Salmon with Jasmine Rice 10.50 (GF)

 

Friday, April 12

Lemon Garlic Shrimp, Cherry Tomatoes, and Linguini 9.25

 

 

Casserole to go:

 

Wednesday, April 10

Whole: 42 Half: 21

 

Lasagna of the week:

 

Friday, April 12!!)

Whole: 39 Half: 19.50

 

Right after I showed you snaps of my orchid bud, the plant popped open and here is the gorgeous flower that was hiding inside.  Glorious!  And since I took THIS picture, another bloom opened.  AND I still have one bud ready to go!

 

I'm planning another cooking class. 

Wednesday April 17th is the day.

6:30-8:00 is the time.

 

I'm going to cook a few things inspired by the season (!) and prompted by some things in my new honey cookbook. 

At this class I'll be demonstrating:

Polenta with my mother's Mushrooms "Lucullus"

Minted Pea Soup

Beets a l'Orange

Strawberry Rhubarb Cream. 

 

The cost is $25.00 per person.  I cook and then you get to enjoy it all.  You also get recipes and a fun night. We'll have wine in our shop and also dinner, if you'd like to come before the class for an early supper.

 

These tulips are still not quite open.  Maybe next week.  The flowers at The Biltmore Estate are plentiful and glorious.  But I have my own little Festival of Flowers at home.  One plant here.  One plant there. 

 

I went up to the Penland School last week for their Easter egg hunt.  Someone had brought a crate with four baby bunnies in it.  This one caught my eye and, while everyone else scrambled around admiring Easter bonnets and the handmade eggs, I sat on the wall and filled with love from this little sweetie pie.

 

April 6, 2013

 

Howdy, howdy!

I sure hope your day includes time outside. Mine does! I’ve already visited the market for a browse through the tables of spring buds and plant starts. And when I am done with a few things I’m headed home to get my pup and take a stroll through the gardens at The Biltmore Estate. It is so great to have a yearly pass. I can go in whenever I wish. What a joy!

 

Speaking of Joy, it looks like the whole weekend of our JOYride for Livestrong at the YMCA is going to be the official Livestrong Weekend here. Wow! May 17th IS worldwide Livestrong Day (it used to be October 2) so the timing of our bike ride is perfect! All we need now are riders. Please join for this ride, okay? There is a link for you to follow in the next little article.

 

Thanks!

 

I’ve been invited the French Broad Garden Club’s Spring sale on April 27th at Clem’s Cabin at 1000 Hendersonville Road. I’ll be talking about bees, offering some honey to taste and taking orders for my book – which will be out in September. Come by, fill up your cart with plant starts and come say hello to me and Emily. We’ll take your book order and you’ll be all set for Christmas (REALLY???)

 

I’m in week 2 of my post-chemotherapy days. Funny how directed I have been with all of this. For the past nearly two years most weeks have included a visit to a hospital or a doctor or the chemotherapy infusion center. Truth is, I’m still operating on that schedule, but now the visits are aimed at bringing my body back up to a more vital place. I’m making internal adjustments, absorbing the “survivor” mantle once again, and planning adventures and future things. It’s not as if nothing happened, but now that I am not in active infused chemotherapy mode, I have a lot of time to think and dream and muse and imagine. I have questions and time to think about what the answers might be. It’s good. Really good. And curious too. Know what I mean?

 

I visited my hair cutting friend Maggie yesterday, kibitzing while she cut my friend’s hair. In the next chair a young man had his not-too-long hair shaved into a Mohawk which then got bleached and colored blue! (He’d made a bet with his students, saying this was what he would do if they did their part of a fundraising challenge. – Way to go kids!) Well I was fascinated with the whole procedure and got a tiny splotch of my hair painted blue too. It’s not quite as satisfying as a whole blue head but it’s a good start. I actually am seriously thinking of dying my hair blue.

 

Yes, I really am!

 

So, things are good in so many ways. The sun, which I tell you about, has now traveled to the north enough to hit me right in the face as it rises over the Blue Ridge mountains. “Get up!” it says. When I stir my pup hops up on the end of the bed, settling in for a five-minute snooze before I get up. She also warms my side of the bed when it is time for sleep. What a fine friend she is! What a fine time this is. And how nice it is to be able to give you this kind of report. Let’s keep it going this way, shall we? (I’m doing my best…)

 

Did I mention that Henry is our honorary co-chair of the Kid's JOYride?  He is! 

 

The kids will kick off our Inaugural JOYride for Livestrong at the YMCA (an exercise program for cancer survivors and their families.)  Henry can cnow ride a bike so he'll be there.  After their ride, kids can play on inflatable bouncy things, hula hoops, balloons, face painting and more.  We'll have music and other fun things to do while we wait for the 25 and 50 mile riders to come in.

 

It's all part of Livestrong Weekend in Asheville.

 

Now all we need is for you to say yes to joining in.  Follow the link below to register as a rider (real or "virtual") or to become a sponsor.  We're trying to make it possible for 100 people to join this program - which is free to participants but costs the YMCA $515.00 per person to produce.