my very own crazytown

Sarah may be back from crazytown....but I've been there all week.

Just so you know...it's not that easy to totally rebuild your computer info on a new one...even if you DO HAVE a back up hard drive!

Almost there, but this mother crashed on Monday.....


and did I mention that everyone wants soap before Mothers' Day?

finally photos from Easter

(these from Sarah's camera)

got out the good china and Sarah made a lovely centerpiece upon arrival

menu was on an earlier post.

we served the 'ramp' biscuits with Amsterdam cheese during cocktail hour.
(subbed scallions for ramps)

assembling the pea salad on pea shoots for first course
our guests

no photos of the leg of lamb, but it was scrumptious as were the potatoes with caper butter!

back to our regularly scheduled blog...

just one more photo of Nea and her happy reunion when Sarah and Eric returned last night.

Now to soapmaking, food and flowers!

I made 4 batches of soap this morning....I hate lining the molds...so tedious.

This part is so much easier....white grapefruit in the mold....

Cleaning and organizing the workshop is also not my favorite part of soapmaking.
Bread pudding, a comfort food from my childhood ready for the oven for pot luck Mah Jongg tonight.

And...my garden is going crazy with this unusual heat. everything is coming up so fast.
Here is Fritillaria that Sarah and I planted last fall.

Field Trip

I promised Nea a trip to PetSmart....
So much dog food!
So many toys:
We got a new toy and some Pork Chomps! And waited SO PATIENTLY at the check out...that Nea got a treat from the cashier!

its all about Nea...

really, I'll post about something else soon, but she is such a sweet dog.

She's not so mopey today, and eats her lunch al fresco like such a lady.

Now we're going to the park!

Later, blogsters.

Monday PM

Sarah and Eric left for VT today and left Nea here with me.
















She's been a little sad since they left, so I had to let her come up on the couch and watch Damages with me tonight.














She's feeling better now. I think she likes the big screen TV.

I also promised her a trip to the park tomorrow!

Easter Menu

...from Sarah

Roast Leg of Lamb with Tarragon-Mint Butter

Golden Potatoes with Caper Brown-Butter Crumbs

Pea Salad with Radishes and Feta Cheese

Ramp and Buttermilk Biscuits with Cracked Coriander

Buttermilk Spice Cake with Pear Compote

I'm working on all of the above...with my own adaptations....no orange peel in slits in the lamb....I like garlic.

No pears for a compote, I have raspberries and red currants in the freezer from the CSA last summer...I'll make a compote with those.

Sarah's arriving with the pea shoots and fresh radishes. (my store only had radishes in a plastic bag)

It'll all come together sometime later this evening! Photos to follow.

Happy Easter to all!

PS...

Yesterday, Pentti and I celebrated 30 years of married bliss*

Yes, we were married on April Fools Day. It's a long story. But he always remembers our anniversary!

* i use the term loosely....after all, who could take 30 yrs of TOTAL bliss....
but we're enjoying a great life together.

Macaroons

for Passover:

I made these to take to a Seder earlier this week. Recipe here. They were pretty easy once you got past the 12 minutes of cooking and stirring. Don't skimp on that. I think it was really important.

Yes, they're shaped like pyramids.....and some I dipped in chocolate.