Quick trip to Madison, WI

Last week Bruno made his annual trip to the University of Wisconsin (in Madison) to team teach a short-course on pharmaceutical dosage forms. As always it was a busy time with lots of enthusiastic students and their difficult questions! This is what continuing education should be like.

As a bonus Bruno was able to have a relaxing dinner with our friends Mike and Sue Capp. The cuisine-de-jour was indian at the Maharani Indian Restaurant on West Washngton Avenue. When we lived in Madison there were just 1 or 2 indian restaurants to choose from, and this is now a good additional option. It was really good to catch up with Mike and Sue, and to hear about their busy life in Madison.

The weekend at home (including a Spruce Street update)

While Sheri was touring her old haunts, Kokee and I took advantage of a warm, dry weekend to get out and about nearer to home.


On Saturday after the obligatory trip to the dump we set off for the annual North Stonington garden club plant sale. We picked up a few annuals for use in "pots on the deck". These were duly planted, and the rest of the day was spent at the hardware store and tending to the garden.


Today (Sunday), it was off to Spruce Street bright and early.......

Last weekend we "liberated" the kitchen and removed all the old (circa 1960) cabinets. This took some doing, but we managed it in the end. And no one lost any fingers! The pictures below show where the sink once was, and the original 'hole' for a built in oven.





While we were at it we also took out the somewhat out of place colonial style mantel piece....


Today, was spent on mostly outdoor jobs, such as patching holes in the drive way, pulling up weeds, cutting the grass, wire-brushing the railing on the front step, and (after it got dark) vacuuming up the mess in the kitchen.


I think I'll sleep well tonight. There's is plenty more left to be done next weekend if you're at a loose end!

Mother's Day with DiAnn and Mimi

Sheri celebrated Mother's day with DiAnn and Mimi in Keyser, West Virginia. In between rain showers we enjoyed breakfast "up the creek" at terrific breakfast nook in New Creek, retail therapy in the local shops and dinner at The Candlewyck Inn (photos of Sheri and Mimi at dinner). It was great to be together!

DiAnn's Birthday

Sheri joined Mike and Diann out on the town in Pittsburgh to celebrate DiAnn's birthday (she's 35!) . Dinner at McCormick & Schmicks was wonderful, DiAnn had her own personalized souvenir menu, and dessert will not be forgotten.

First Harvest of 2008

We picked our first "harvest" of the season! Three spears of asparagus, which are capture below in the April 2008 "Face of Produce". This one is called "Man in Asparagus Patch". A few minutes on the grill and those spears were delightful.

Garden Irrigation 101

On the eve of Earth Day we dusted off the soaker hoses, sorted connectors and reset the timers. Voila, irrigation. It seems early this year, but the raised beds were a looking dry so it was time.

We started using soaker hoses for irrigating our raised beds several years ago and still marvel at the elegant simplicity of this system. Most importantly we appreciate the extra time for riding bikes, lounging on the deck with a cocktail, or pulling weeds. The steps are simple, first sorting out various hoses and connectors is key.

We use a 15 ft. soaker hose in each raised bed. The soaker hoses are connected between beds with regular garden hose using two-way splitters. The hoses all connect back into a timer, which is discreetly housed in a custom wood box that keeps out the rain and UV and promotes timer longevity.

Early each morning and at dusk each evening the beds receive a good "soaking". This approach reduces loss to evaporation, run-off and promotes happy healthy plants. The 2-hours we spend each spring and each fall setting up and taking down is a small investment in time come mid-summer when we would otherwise be standing with a spray hose, or using an inefficient sprinkler.

Wait, wait...don't tell me

Last night we attended the recording of a well known comedy radio show on National Public Radio. The "Wait, wait..don't tell me" cast were in Hartford recording this weekend's show and we were in the audience (if you listen hard on Saturday you'll be able to hear us clapping.....). It was a great evening out with lots of good clean humor, and witty repartee. If you have the chance to go in the future we thoroughly recommend it.

For more details visit http://www.npr.org/programs/waitwait/