The Season's First Picnic!

We're in for a warm spell here along the lake the next few days - 60s and 70s, which is downright balmy, actually, this being Wisconsin. I have the first picnic of the season planned for Saturday, and I'm going to follow an easy menu suggested in the June 2009 issue of Real Simple magazine. We'll be having goat cheese spread, pasta salad with asparagus and lemon, and oatmeal-raspberry bars. It'll be the first of many picnics this year, but one of the only times we won't have to deal with winged intruders!

Pasta Salad with Asparagus and Lemon

8 ounces (1/2 box) penne (they call for regular, I'm going to try it with whole grain)
1 pound asparagus (ends trimmed), cut into 1-inch pieces
1/4 cup Parmesan pieces (1 ounce)
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
kosher salt and black pepper

Cook the pasta according to the package directions and add the asparagus during the last 3 1/2 minutes of cooking. Drain the pasta and asparagus and rinse under cold water to cool. Transfer to a large bowl.
Add the Parmesan, oil, lemon juice and zest, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and toss to combine.

Boat on the sea, bird in my tree

I heard this Mason Jennings song yesterday, and it helped along my springish mood (although it mentions summer). If I knew how to put a youtube clip of him singing here I would - learning how is on my agenda for spring break!

Lemon Grove Avenue

If I have my way

I'm never gonna leave lemon grove avenue

Where the summer breeze

Blows through the windows in the afternoon

And all the stars come out at night
And there's a boat out on the sea

And there's a bird up in my tree

And there's a feeling in my heart I can't explain,

I'm coming home, I'm coming home, yeah

Yeah, I'm on my way, I'm on my way

Martha's Vineyard Radio

Here's a website I enjoy that feeds into my New England/Martha's Vineyard/Cape Cod obsession - mvyradio.com. It's the radio station of Martha's Vineyard, and they play some pretty cool music over there. For example, Ben Folds is currently playing. How I'd love to go to one of the LL Bean sponsored concerts they advertise! I'm thinking of sending a SASE to receive my free Blue Lobster sticker to put on the farm's golfcart. :) Wonder when I'll ever actually set foot on the island and hear the music out of an actual radio with an ocean breeze in my hair.... one can dream!

Purple Light and Whippoorwills

My daughter is learning new songs in kindergarten for the school's Spring concert. She sang me one of them and I think it has such cute lyrics. When I told my mom about it she informed me that it was a version of a Dean Martin/Ricky Nelson song. He sings "my rifle, my pony and me" but my daughter's version has "my knapsack, my pony and me" along with a few other kid-friendly changes. I'm going to see if I can hear the original version on youtube - any song with the words purple light and whippoorwill is sure to be good!

Purple Light

Sun is sinking in the west
The cattle go down to the stream
The redwing settles in the nest
It's time for a cowboy to dream

Purple light in the canyon
that is where I long to be
With my three
good companions
just my rifle, my pony and me

Gonna hang my sombrero
on the limb of a tree
Coming home
sweet my darling
just my rifle, my pony and me

Whippoorwill in the willow
sings a sweet melody
Riding to Amarillo
just my rifle, my pony and me

No more cows to be ropin'
No more strays
will I see
'round the bend she'll be waitin
For my rifle, my pony and me

Throwing raindrops - That's What Leprechauns Do!

The three leprechauns placed a pot of glittering gold in just the right spot and watched the rainbow curve itself all the way down till it ended on top of the pot.

They settled themselves to wait. They tootled some grass stalk music, threw raindrops at each other, and ate rosehips they'd brought for snacks.

"Maybe we should put up a sign," Boo suggested. "'Pot of gold, this way.'"

"No, no!" Ari said, "that's not how it's done. There's a bit of magic to the finding, and a bit of luck, and a bit of imagination, too. That gold's waiting for just the right person."

From the book That's What Leprechauns Do by Eve Bunting

Glimpse of Spring

It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade.

~Charles Dickens

Favorite Party Decoration Ever!

I spotted this neat idea for crepe paper streamers awhile back in Better Homes and Gardens. I've made them for several occasions, most recently for my daughter's birthday. I've made them for baby showers, Halloween parties, and Mother's Day. They are SO easy and have major impact! An embroidery hoop is used as a base, then the streamers are wrapped over the top and secured with the hoop inset. The instructions for this particular 'windsock' streamer calls for an 8 inch hoop, with 8 foot lengths of crepe paper, hung by fishing line. Normally I wouldn't put red, purple, and hot pink together as shown in the magazine, but the combination actually does make for a very pretty "Bohemian" type color scheme. I'm looking forward to hanging some outside around the deck for my first warm weather soiree, which will hopefully be sooner than later!

A Poem To Ponder

OUTSIDE OR UNDERNEATH?

-Shel Silverstein

Bob bought a hundred-dollar suit
But couldn't afford any underwear.
Says he "If your outside looks real good
No one will know what's under there"

Jack bought some hundred-dollar shorts
But wore a suit with rips and tears.
Says he, "It won't matter what people see
As long as I know what's under there"

Tom bought a flute and a box of crayons,
Some bread and cheese and a golden pear.
And as for his suit or his underwear
He doesn't think about them much....or care

Hmmmmm.....

My Girl Turns 6!

My daughter turns 6 today, but it's breaking my heart that she's on the couch right now with a double ear infection. I can't wait until we're back outside, on a day like the photo above, and not stuck inside with all the germs passing between each other, over and over. We'll make the best of today that we can, and we'll try again for our little family party later in the week. Maybe later she'll feel better to eat some of her cake, which she chose this year to be in the shape of a turtle.