FOR ALL THE SPRING CHICKENS...

We were told 

to expect snow, 

but we had rain...

lots of rain...

...and then

 the snow came.

A full day and night of snow. 

 It was beautiful and welcome. 

 We need it all

 very badly.

As the world is

 working so hard

 to get all their little chicks ducks

 in a row,

 we here in the United States, 

are trying to play catch-up. 

 What a shame 

that it is playing out this way

 in our country.

  We, the people, 

will have paid 

a great price before it is all over.

  I feel so badly 

for those who have lost loved ones and 

for the businesses and schools 

that are forced to close. 

 No one is at fault 

for any of this virus, and 

we are all in it together.

  What would help 

any fears and panic

 would be if we could count

 on the information we are receiving. 

 I think, 

if we listen to 

the medical and scientific community,

 we will get the best advice,

 all else is just

 dumb noise.

 The Captain just came back 

from the drive-up at Starbuck's and 

said it was almost totally empty.

  During this time of the day 

it is always packed. 

 A bit of good and bad. 

 Bad, 

that they don't have the business

 but good 

in that it seems people

 are staying home

 so that the virus doesn't get passed on. 

 I cancelled 

my monthly lunch outing

with my girlfriends today. 

 So far

 there hasn't been any news 

of problems (as per the newspaper
 this morning, Monday)
 has been one confirmed case
(as per the newspaper 
this morning, Tuesday,
 in our community but,

 until we know for sure, 

I'm not taking 

any chances.

About thirty years ago,

 when we first took up residence 

in the Cottage, 

coming home from work,

 I would unwind by watching 

The Food Network and The Cooking Channel. 

 It wasn't 

that I was interested in cooking, 

it was because the voices

 of Martha Stewart and The Barefoot Contessa,

 were relaxing to me.  

I was more interested 

in seeing their homes and gardens 

than in their cooking skills. 

 On The Cooking Channel 

there was a young french woman,

 who lived in the 

quaintest, cutest cottage and 

she entertained friends

 on her charming back deck. 

 She would ride her bicycle 

to the bakery and 

come home with the basket filled 

with bread and fresh flowers,

 even her theme music 

was conducive to romance and relaxation. 

 I was obsessed with her 

and, now, 

I can't remember her name 

or the name of her show. 

Does anyone remember her?

Over the years, 

I have surprised myself, 

and all who know me, 

that I have learned to love to cook. 

 Another show 

that was on The Food Network,

 that I enjoyed watching, 

was Robin To The Rescue. 

 Robin, in her kitchen filled 

with colorful Fiesta Ware,

 would fix a delicious meal 

that could be morphed into 

enough food to extend that dinner

 for two or three nights.  

I have her cookbook and

 have used it many times 

over the years...

...and tonight 

I am fixing

 Roasted Chicken Breasts

 with garlic, rosemary and lemon. 

It will morph into 

Warm Chicken-Cherry Waldorf Salad

 for tomorrow. 

 I think it only fitting 

to serve these dinners 

in a setting that honors 
the age old notion 
that we celebrate the 

the brave animal 

that gave their lives

 so that we could 

fill our bellies!

I still can't take a decent photo of food

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

First we had 

the Santa Claus Specials, 

now we have the 

Flower Frenzies...

There are so many options out there,

 who knows 

where it will stop? 

 The camellia and the sunflower

 are both painted 

using real flowers as subjects. 

 The originals

 were on my computer and 

I just enlarged them and 

traced the outlines from the computer. 

 I did all the filling in on my own. 

 Someday, maybe,

I will be able to paint

 all from scratch, 

but since I am no Spring Chicken, 

I better get going.

Tami just called 

saying she and Tim 

are coming up here on Saturday 

to go grocery shopping for us 

so that we don't have to go out. 

 Since the Captain and I,

 both,

 are in the high risk category

(age wise) 

they are concerned 

for our well being. 

 I hate 

that they have to make 

such a long trip, 

but we certainly appreciate

 that they want to do it and 

love them for it. 

 Hope you are all staying well.

...Judy...

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