I've been filling my home, inside and out, with colors of the season.  In the front, as I have mentioned, I have bright red geraniums and yellow pansies.  A riot of primary color.

 

I have, as I mentioned, three raised beds next to my house.  I have planted a few things so far: beans and peas and cukes. 

 

Here - TA DA!!! - is my first bean.

 

Wanna come over for dinner?

 

Speaking of which...

Monday, April 22

Chicken Florentine with Asparagus Risotto 9.25 (GF)

 

Tuesday, April 23

Spanakopita with Lemon Almond Tabbouleh 8.75

 

Wednesday, April 24

Local Beef Meatloaf with Cheddar Smashed Potatoes 8.95

 

Thursday, April 25

Chicken and Cremini Mushroom Crepes 8.95

 

Friday, April 26

Salmon Corn Cakes, Asparagus and lemon Aioli 10.95

 

Casserole to go:

 

Wednesday, April 24

Whole: 36 Half: 18

 

Lasagna of the week:

 

Friday, April 26

Whole: 48 Half: 24

 

My friend Jas tells me she is going to teach me how to make her refrigerator bread and butter pickles.  I can go through a jar of store-bought bread and butter pickles in a day so my budget is going to celebrate my own bounty and make my OWN pickles.  So there!

 

Well, sort of.

 

My friend Deb came for lunch last week.  I snagged a couple of things from work: a baked chicken breast, some beautiful local salad greens, a couple of strips of bacon, and two hard-boiled eggs.

 

I HAD a couple of tomatoes, some snap peas, two radishes, mushrooms, cucumbers, Maytag blue cheese and the fixings for a Dijon vinaigrette. 

 

After crowing about my tulip (my sole tulip) I had to go see what the big boys and girls had planted.  Tye Masterton and I had a fine day, strolling around, not exactly tip-toeing, but trying not to let each other stomp through the beds of color.

 

 

Sunday, April 21, 2013

 

Hi, hi.

 

Well, I made it all the way to Sunday NIGHT before I got a chance to sit and think about writing to you. As you gathered from the rest of the newsletter, I have had an art-filled weekend, spending Saturday learning about the art of painting with beeswax and today learning about how to mix color with the special techniques needed for encaustic painting. I am swimming in color and I am very happy.

 

It is such a delight to have Spring here in such a big way. Outside my study window I have a Dogwood tree in full bloom. My deck is covered with potted color and my little gardens are popping out with growing things.

 

Any day now I will get new bees for my struggling apiary. This week I cleaned out all my gear and painted the hive boxes, readying them for our new roommates. It is sadly quiet here without bees. Mine took off sometime in the winter or before. Sad and sad. I SO want bees here. It is SO hard for me to keep them going. I know it’s not all me, but I feel very responsible and sorry at my clumsiness in this regard.

 

My sisters were both here this weekend. Well, one lives here already but it is always a fine thing to have all three of us together. Both sisters’ beaus were here too so I cranked up my new stove and cooked a fine little spring meal for us all last night. My sisters have a fun knack for completely cracking each other up. I’m not quite sure what it is, but in any gathering of the three of us, the two of them have each other crying with hilarity before too long. Anyone else in the vicinity smiles and maybe even laughs, but no one else really gets what it was that sent them over the edge. It is, I can report, very fun for the other diners – even if we remain clueless.

 

The weekend of May 17-19 is going to be very special (personally for me, and also for you.)

 

The big news (which is still a "secret" so don't tell anyone!) is that the entire weekend is going to be proclaimed Livestrong weekend in Asheville. A real proclamation from our Mayor!! Ya-hoo!  May 17th is National Livestrong Day, which coincides nicely with our May 19th JOYride for Livestrong at the YMCA of Asheville.

 

By the way - the day is going to be lots of fun.  The Kid's Ride starts at 1:00 at the Carrier Park Track.  We'll all cheer them on and then will all send the 25 and 50 mile riders on their merry way. 

 

While they are off, we'll have bands and face painting and hula hoops and temporary tattos and massage and yoga and the Gypsy Queen's yums.  There will be a whole lot more so even if you're not riding or if you are a Virtual or InSPIRIT rider, you can still come and celebrate the day and this wonderful program for cancer survivors (like me!)

 

Do please visit our website just below here and read all about it.  Sign up for something, okay?  Tell yourself that Laurey asked (nicely.)