Thoughts from Alison that might at least entertain you!

Grillin' for Food Gatherers 2009

Good morning, All!  I find myself awake and restless this morning, so of course I'm surfing the interwebs with little purpose or direction.  I realize I haven't shared any Grillin' info here yet this year.

Grillin' is, of course, the annual (and very important) picnic hosted to raise funds for Food Gatherers.  You can read all about it here, and/or this bit here from their website:

"Sunday June 14th, 3-8pm (rain or shine!)

Join us at the Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds
5055 Ann Arbor-Saline Road

Warmer weather is ahead, and that means that the 20th Annual Grillin’ for Food Gatherers is on it’s way!

Please join us at Food Gatherers’ annual picnic extravaganza that helps fight hunger where we live!

Gourmet sausages, grilled chicken, scrumptious salads, delectable desserts and cash bar. More than 100 volunteers and dozens of area restaurants serve up a grilled feast for the whole family. Just a few of the fine area restaurants contributing to the feast include Al Dente Pasta Co.; Arbor Brewing Company; Cafe Zola; The Common Grill; eve; Knight's Steakhouse; D'Artagnan, Inc; Tio's Southwestern Grill and Zingerman’s Deli, Bakehouse and Creamery.

Music by RFD Boys, The White Ravens and George Bedard and the Kingpins will keep toes tappin.’ Kids activities by the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum and a food inspired silent auction will round out a plate full of fun for all.

Proceeds enable Food Gatherers to rescue and distribute more than 4.2 million pounds of food annually to 150 non-profit programs providing emergency food resources to those in need throughout Washtenaw County.

Since nearly all the food, labor and artwork is donated, your Grillin’ ticket really does fight hunger where we live!"

Plus - who doesn't love a good picture of Lady Liberty with carrots on her crown, chowing on some watermelon?  It's a wonderful event - consider joining me there for the afternoon on June 14th!  Be Well, All.

Various Visitors

Some new guests in our kitchen window, and a "garden" (if by garden, you mean the mossy patch of dirt with nothing else growing behind Prune Ridge) visitor John snapped through the glass door earlier this week.  Happy Saturday, All!

Grover on Marriage

Hello and Happy Weekend, Friends!  Several friends have shared a link to this video in the last few days on Facebook.  I think it's so great, thought I'd pass it along to my readers who aren't also Facebookers!  Seems marriage is pretty simple...  so why can't we make it legal for everyone?

Window Covering, Phase I & II

A good portion of my day was spent installing these new bamboo blinds in our guest room!  I'm proud to say it worked, and I'm happy with them.  First picture is Phase I - naked window, without the strange collection of hardware that has been there since before we moved into Prune Ridge.  Next, Phase II - completed installation of the new blinds.

Phase III (the final phase, I believe) will be an as-yet-uncreated navy valance type thing, to be sewn by me.  The valance wil be a random creation, no pattern in mind, but I think I can do it.  I'll report back...

Happy Memorial Day, All.  Back to work tomorrow, eh?  Have a good week!

Took a Ride

This morning brought my first real "pushing myself" bike ride of the year/season.  Why oh why is it the end of May and I'm just beginning to push?  It was a good ride, and I only scared one person.  I tried to warn her, honest.

Note to self:  Keep doing this!  (The riding, not the scaring of pedestrians.)

Sleeping On Mom's Computer Bag

Tori has this thing about anything belonging to me.  If it's on the floor, she's on it:

Let The Growing Commence

I've finished potting assorted veggies and herbs on the front porch!

I decided to continue experimenting with container gardening for at least this season ahead.  John and I haven't decided when to tackle our desired patio project in the little back yard yet, and I didn't want to plant the space and then decide mid-season to scrap it in favor of new patio construction.  I had good success with a small selection of veggies at the little lake house in Milan two years ago, so I'm going with round two this year.

The selection included 2 types of tomatoes (these are the biggest experiment - not sure they will fare well in containers, but I'm trying), 2 different bell peppers, basil, greek oregano, marjoram, dill, and rosemary.  I'll report back with any relevant updates.

The perennials in the front gardens are coming along nicely also, and so far the erosion control is helping last year's disappearing mulch challenge. 

Happy Sunday, Friends.  Be Well!

We call "him" Willard?

"Willard" is back, or has really never left.  Willard, of course, is "our" groundhog.  Moments ago, with a random glance out our sliding doors to the little yard space John said "Uhh, Willard has a baby."  Sure enough, there's Willard... carrying a small Willard in "his" mouth across our yard.

"Maybe Willard's a Wilma" says John.  Yep, it seems to be so.  No wonder "he" was looking extra chunky this spring.

Zombie Film

Good evening, All!  I don't offer movie endorsements here often, and here's one I haven't even seen - so I guess it's not really an endorsement.  Some of my readers may be surprised to know that in addition to loving nearly every movie that's ever been made for children, I like Zombie movies and especially B-movies a lot!

Maybe you've already heard about this one, but if not here you go:  I read this article today on CNN.  Mark Price is a 30-year-old film maker from Britain who has been showing his film Colin at the Cannes Film Festival to rave reviews.  I can't wait for a chance to see it here!  His film is probably going to be picked up by a Hollywood studio.  (The picture here is from the movie, taken from the CNN article also.)

Aside from an interesting premise (a Zombie story told from the point of view of the Zombie) and lots of buzz, the most intriguing thing about this movie is the budget.  The article says that a "low-budget" movie generally has a budget of a couple hundred thouand dollars.  Colin was filmed on a budget of $70.00.  That's right, read it again - Seventy Dollars.

Happy Saturday Night, Friends.  Be Well - and watch out for Zombies!

Piano Love

So if you happen to be a blogger, it's a very lucky thing to marry into the Reed Family.  The Reeds alone keep me "stocked" with bits to share in the blogosphere!  Found this through John's dad - thanks, Dave!  From Fark.com, here are Fran and Marlo Cowan, married 62 years - playing an impromptu recital in the lobby of the Mayo Clinic.  (An unrelated aside - my Grandpa, Hoyt Cass, was an electrical engineer who was involved in designing the original lighting/electrical system for the Mayo Clinic.)  Enjoy, Friends!

And She's Back

Ta-da!  Home from road tripping here, and in one piece.  I'll be back here over the weekend a bit to update on bits of life.

Had great fun in Pennsylvania with Holly, Larry, and the girls.  Happy Friday evening, All!

Road Tripping

Good evening, Friends!

In the AM, I'm headed away for a few days of this vacation week of mine.  I'll be visiting Holly, Larry, and kids in PA.  This is a long overdue visit, and a little escape I'm reeeeally looking forward to!  Here I come, House of Butkovich!

I'll return to husband, cats, and home on Friday evening.  Knowing Holly as I do, I will likely return with tales to share.  Escape is good for the funny bone if nothing else - and really for many things besides!

Happy May Week to All.  I will return to this forum sometime in the coming weekend.  Be Well!

Art is Cool

This afternoon was the Circle of Art Party at the Saline Picture Frame Co, and what a fun event it was!  It's brilliant, really - and I can't imagine the energy and effort that go into making this fundraising effort work so well.  This event benefits Food Gatherers, and is truly one of the most perfect and beautifully executed I have ever observed.

The Saline Picture Frame Co. takes donations of small works of art (there were over 400 pieces this year, I think) and prepares them for display.  The works are displayed online as they come in over about 2 months, with online auction bidding leading up to today's event.  On event day, the store is open for the party - with all works on display, and silent bidding for about 4 hours.  The "bell" rings at 4:30, bidding is completed, and the tallying begins.  It's busy, energetic, and just fun - with an unbelievable collection of original works of art - and every single penny is a donation to Food Gatherers.

And so John and I returned home this evening with two new pieces for our home.  I had eyed both of these (and many, many others) through the online bidding before today's event.  At the event I decided these were the two to focus on!  The pictures here are from the original online listings.  The Tuscan door photo is an 8"x10" original - and almost exactly the colors we have in our bedroom.  The bowl is incredibly beautiful, and the shape really drew me in.

I also was able to donate 3 pieces (of the original 4 vegetables - I didn't know there was a limit!) of my own work for the auction.  The red pepper, broccoli, and garlic bulb all seemed to draw quite a bit of bidding action.  The garlic bulb began as my favorite of the collection, and I think the bidding supported my own assesment.

Nearly all of my readers will already know how much I love Food Gatherers.  It is such a joy to participate in a fun event to support an organization doing such crucial work in our community.  Food Gatherers doesn't just do important work - they do it unbelievably well.

Thank you to the Saline Picture Frame Co for supporting Food Gatherers in this way!

Mother's Day 2009

So it's a wee bit past Mother's Day, but I have pictures (sort of) to share!  John and I spent part of the day on Mother's Day in Toledo - visiting a plant sale, buying plants that are unplanted as of yet, and having dinner with my mom and family there.

I very brilliantly thought to take the camera along for the afternoon, and just as brilliantly forgot I had it and neglected to take any lovely nostalgic pictures of the family day.  I remembered as we got back in the car at the restaurant, after various goodbyes and hugging.

Here we have a few of the pictures that I then took on the way home.  Enjoy the view from the car in the parking lot at El Camino Real - isn't it lovely?  We also have a good highway shot on US23 northbound heading into Ann Arbor.  Oh, and my own knees.  And what road trip would be complete without a nod to the frog on/in John's dashboard?

Happy road tripping to all - get out there and drive somewhere, Friends.  Be Well!

Absentia

So what a week this has been so far - hardly a moment when I haven't been on the move!  I'm headed into a Masterworks performance weekend, followed by a vacation week starting Monday.  I'll be a bit more present here, honest.

Happy Night, Friends.  Be Well in this busy world of ours!