This recipe has been updated and moved to the new blog.
You can find it here: Mediterranean Orzo Salad
Marinated Pasta Salad with Feta
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Kacey’s Photo of the Month Contest
Kacey of Wine on the Keyboard is hosting her May contest for the next couple days. The theme was motherhood and there are some really great entries – go vote for your favorite [even if it isn’t mine!].
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What can I say Wednesday?
This is a butterfly daisy from one of the big pots I have out front. It is a Proven Winner plant if you are interested. Keep it deadheaded, along with normal watering and fertilizing and it will bloom just about non-stop until the frost gets it.
My love affair with ferns continues. These are in my shade garden and the late afternoon light really brings them alive,
The lupines are just starting to bloom – this is a Russell’s Red.
I wanted to get this shot in before they cut this field later in the week – it is from the hay field that takes up about 1/3 of our property.
Although I keep a lot of various kinds of bird feeders all year, you will rarely see me post a photo of a bird on a feeder. I like them much better on branches or on the ground. But right now it is hard to get a hummingbird on anything but a feeder. So here is the first hummer photo of the year – but not the last I am sure!
Posted in photos, Wordless Wednesday
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Interview with a baby
The other morning I had a chance for an in depth conversation with a recent visitor. She seemed unusally coherent. I don’t like to sound judgmental, but normally she is likely to be spewing what can only be characterized as gibberish. Mamamamamama. Bababababababababababa. Vavavavavavavava. That is what we usually get. This time was different.
Intrepid Interviewer: Hello Miss Anna Banana – how are you today?
Anna: I am doing good Grandma. 
Interpid Interviewer: Did you have something in particular on your mind today, or you just wanted to chat?
Anna: Well, I have been thinking about a few things.
II: Such as?
Anna: To begin with, I am little worried about my hair. See – I just have this little bit back here. Most of the rest of you have lots of hair – will I get more do you think? What if I grow up with hair like my Dad’s?
II: I am pretty sure you will get more.
Anna: Really?
II: Yes – you see very few 3 years old with no hair. Just give it a chance and it will happen. Your dad shaves his head. He has hair just like the rest of us.
Anna: That is good to know.
II: You look like something else is on your mind. Care to share with us?
Anna: I do wonder about a lot of stuff you know.
II: I am not surprised. Is there something specific you are wondering about right now?
Anna: Why am I so much shorter than everyone else around here? The rest of you are like waaaaaaaay up there and I am down here. I am tired of looking at kneecaps.
II: Children usually get about as tall as their parents, so I don’t think you have to worry about being short for very long. The last I heard you were much taller than most girl babies your same age.
Anna: Oh that is a relief! 
II: I don’t think you have a whole lot to worry about to tell you the truth. You are about the cutest thing I have ever seen.
Anna: That is what they tell me.
II: You know what though – it is about time for your nap.
Anna: Oh – that is SO bogus Grandma!
II: C’mon now – you are looking a little vague and sleepy.
Anna: Yeah – you might be right. A little nap never hurt anyone.
II: And when you get up, we will go outside and play in the grass or maybe mess around with some of your big brother’s stuff when he’s not looking.
Anna: Okay, cool! You rock Grandma!
II: So do you kiddo!
Posted in family, grandchildren, interviews, photos
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Our nest is empty again
Blogger has not been cooperating with me, so I don’t have time for a big post this morning. Later on this week though, I will have a really yummy recipe for a summery salad, an interview with a very special guest and some lovely photos.
After 3 months, yesterday was finally the big day – Ellyn and Jason came back down to pick up the kids and the dog and cat and the assorted paraphernalia that goes with all of them. They loaded up the vehicles and headed on down the road. 
Now our house is free from clutter. No legos, no little trucks, no toys playing the same annoying song over and over until you grab it and throw it on a high shelf when the kids aren’t looking . My kitchen counters seem the size of football fields with no boxes of baby cereal, no piles of plastic dishes and sippy cups. I can leave my camera sitting in a handy location without fear that it will be molested by a short person.
This is both good and bad of course. I kind of like legos as you well know and clean counters are very nice, but maybe just the teeniest bit boring. It’s really quiet too. Ok – I like the quiet part. Mostly, anyway.
But next weekend, we will go up to spend a couple days without having to turn it into a major expedition involving big suitcases and time off from work. And a few weeks later, they will be able to rn down here for a couple days with the same ease.
And though I expained this to Riley, he doesn’t really get it. So, he is feeling pretty sad:
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