the last supper

The annual Memorial Day cookout was a success this year, even if attendance was down from years past. It was just Ryan and me and our parents, the 2 cats and 1 dog. And 8 mouth-watering pounds of home-made pulled pork, which I had prepared the night before with a dry rub. I lovingly slapped it on the smoker at 6 am Monday morning. Ryan's Dad's home-made barbeque sauce was the perfect accompaniment. It was a divine meal.

barefoot in the garden

Yesterday I planted basil, thyme, rosemary, 3 varieties of tomatoes, green pepper, cayenne pepper, and marigolds for pollenation and to keep the bugs away. I love this time of year. Parsley, cucumbers, dill, cilantro, and squash to come.

i'm annoyed

Am I being oversensitive because I'm bothered by people who don't use their turn signals? What about the motorists who cut in front of you when you're trying to leave a safe distance between cars? Grrr!

Also, today I was stopped at a red light on the way home from work. I looked over at the car next to me, and the female driver was craning her neck to see into her rearview mirror in order to pluck chin and neck hairs with a giant pair of tweezers. Some people have no shame, but I guess it was kind of funny to watch.

birdfeeder excitement

Spring migration is in full swing these days. Lately, at the feeders there have been chipping sparrows, goldfinches, cardinals, jays, chickadees, titmice, and this morning's big sighting - a male rose-breasted grosbeak. I got a good look at this hadsome devil for several minutes while I dunked my teabag and he stuffed his face.

I'm anxiously looking forward to our birding trip to Letchworth next week...

now I remember why

I met Sue at Plum Garden last night because she was jonesin' for Japanese. More specifically, sushi. Originally I thought, ok, I can order something that's not sushi. Hibachi, maybe. But no, we sat on the regular side of the restaurant, not the hibachi side. The last time I had sushi was a few years ago when California Rollin' first opened in Village Gate. I didn't care for it then and yesterday I learned I still don't care for it.

I was hopeful that my tastes had changed and perhaps even matured. I slurped down my miso soup, ate my salad with gusto, eager to get to the "good stuff." I ordered a Maki dinner, on Sue's recommendation...California rolls, some tuna stuff, and eel. The only way I could choke it down was smothered in wasabi. I ate what I could, but apparently not only is sushi not palatable to me, it's also pretty filling. I tried to help Sue eat her green tea ice cream, but I couldn't even do that. Next month we're having Mexican.

love the weather we're having

forsythia, rose of sharon
tulips, daffodils, hyacinths
creeping phlox, flowering quince and pear
exploding oaks and maples
hydrangea, weeping cherry, budding dogwood
ahh, how i do love Spring