We are, at long last, having some lovely spring weather.  Even the cat is happy - and very busy with her spring things.

Among our seasonal chores for the house is the replacement of roof shingles that didn’t make it through the winter.  This year the roofer came down off the ladder with photographs of the house which showed a lot of rotting.  Oh goodie! Just what we need in this point in time – a major house hold repair expense.  But there was no turning back.  Yesterday the materials for the new siding were delivered here (the cat thinks it is a new jungle gym for her and will be very surprised and unhappy when the work crew shows up later today.

No question the house will look a hell of a lot better, it was indeed time.  No all I need to do is to win lotto.  I won the grand total of $2 last week!  Hardly know where to spend it first….

We are working hard in the garden.  Thee past few years it has gotten ahead of us.  It is futile to try and raise vegetables here because of the woodchucks.  They also destroy a lot of flowers.  Last year I tried to plant a mess of dinner plate dahlias.  I’d get them planted and the wood chuck would come right along behind be and dig them up.  All of them.  And my flowering pots on the front porch !I think I’ll just put in some decorative herbs when they finish with the house

 And what the deer and the woodchucks don’t get the gale winds and sub zero temperature will.  We’re very careful about what we plant.  We check for correct plant zones, we check the Cornell Extension charts for deer culinary preference….and still.  I’m guessing we lose about 70% of the plants we add to the garden each year.

That being said, many of the shrubs that we planted early on are arriving at maturity and it is developing into a very lovely pool area garden. Just no vegetables (hell, I got 100 or more pounds out of my garden in Brooklyn) and very few cutting flowers…..

Mon. AM    Memphis Ribs, Cole Slaw

Mon. PM    Eric Ripert’s Roasted Cod Nicoise LBC 272

                   Lemon Pasta EI, Baby Peas

Tues. AM   Cold Cuts

Tues. PM    Steak Marchand de Vin CCF 139

                   Oven Roasted Potatoes

                   Asparagus Vinaigrette

Weds. AM  Soup Cresson Pommes de Terre (Watercress and Potato Soup) BC-PW

Weds. PM   Sour Orange Yucatan Chicken

                   Polenta, Sautéed Corn and Scallions

Thurs. PM  Almond Flounder Meuniere AMFT 290

                   Parsley Potatoes, Sautéed Green Beans

Fri. AM      Steak Marchand de Vin and  Eggs

Fri PM        Fresh Orange Pork Tenderloin AMFT 273

                    Celery Root Puree AMFT 354,Tossed Salad

Sat. AM      Scrambled Eggs,  Mashed Potato Pancakes f/i

Sat. PM      Garlic Shrimp Tapas

                    Bouillabaisse de Poulet BC-PW

                    Tossed Salad, Peasant Bread

Sun. AM     Cold Cuts

Sun. PM     Mini Egg Rolls

                   Pepronata de Porc – Pork Stew with Red Wine, Bell Peppers  & Tomatoes CCF

                    Orzo, Tossed Salad