Portland

My first arugula harvest of spring! Every day that I can eat food that has just been pulled from the ground is a good one. I will work on expanding my opportunities for that.

Got a leek going in a little pot, some gladiolas from Salina, the bulb of which I'm sure I can eat once the flowers brown.

I remember plucking scorched tops off of kale a few times, eating chard in the middle of West Tampa, thankful

for the sun and dirt tanning my finger tips.

Summer in Oakland is inspiring me to create, teach, and get around where I got to. I'm moving out to another new home in a week and I couldn't be happier. Finally, a home where I can leave my door open and greet housemates and share meals.

I went to Portland this past weekend and had the most drizzly wonderful time with friends. The weather really does set your mood, doesn't it? Everyone in that sleepy Sunday town is laid-back. Even the community center boasts "friendly" streets and courteous pan-handlers. Well, shit, I could just move to the sidewalk if it weren't for that pesky sit-lie law.

This rock garden rivals mine: rocks from the end of the earth, from the center of it, from deep in potato-rich soil, or on the top of an Atlantic cliff, or way at the bottom of Jackson Lake and polished to sit on a dresser. I always like a town that has an entourage of jewelry makers at the Sunday market.

Sights and Sounds

Spending a lazy Sunday lounging in bed past noon after a long night of fondue and wine, making egg scramble with chick peas and chard for breakfast, listening to my Bare Trees record, thinking about the summer and what I'm going to do with myself until it warms up here a bit. The weather has been so sporadic: its like a Florida winter but its mid-May, the sun is struggling to break through the sheet of silver clouds and my record is scratching after the last track.

Next weekend promises a hazy 48 hours in Portland with many friends to speak of and the warm of a friendly hug.

The bird wags her tail as she braces the wind next to a shady spot on my pillow, drying off after an impromptu afternoon bath. Funny, she bathed right after I took a shower; could she be mimicking my hygiene schedule?

Papa San

I love the way my quilt looks like a crucifix when I tie it up during the daytime. It is so bright and cheery in my bedroom that I do not need to turn the light switch on until past 8 o'clock. Rosie sits by a giant window watching the sun pass through the day while I am out and about being the bread-winning in this family of two. To the left of the window hangs a wooden-framed colored-pencil collage made by Katie with homage to my former residence. It was received graciously. The second notable thing that has happened to me was my discovery of this Papasan chair on my street, smelled clean, no damage, score! Now my pillow patch has a new home atop the bamboo lounger and I rearranged my room in the wee hours of the morning. I always wanted a Papasan.

Saturday is the Beltaine Fest in downtown Berkeley. Have you set your love course to cruise yet this year?

Leaving work today I strode into the corner market across the street from the building and picked through their "seconds" bags: two pounds of zucchini one pound of green beans, one pound of peaches, a few apples, and half a pound of mung sprouts....$4. Yes, I do love Spring. So, for dinner I whipped up some spinach spaghetti and topped it with this bake:

In medium depth pan, layer:

1/2 C jarred pasta sauce

drizzle olive oil

5 small zucchini, thin sliced

half an onion, julianned

a little green pepper

2 tsp rosemary, chopped

2 farmer's market tomatoes (sooo juicy)

cubed hard goat cheese (non melting)

I layered the zucc first, then onion and tomato, then rosemary and cheese: repeat for second layer.

top with flax seeds, salt, thyme, pepper

Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes.