It's Sunday, and we still have a cold rain coming down outside.  I've been using the time to clean out a kitchen drawer full of rubber bands, garbage bag ties, birthday candles, kitchen magnets, recylcled paper for grocery lists, and keys to forgotten locks.

I'm also printing recipes off the food network channel and putting holes in to file in my red kitchen binder.  I made some extra copies for Gunther and Eliza of turkety-chili, oven-roasted halibut, flounder with red pepper cream and asparagus, and steamed pork wonton dumplings.  I invited them all over for dinner tonight because Eliza's mom, Carmen, is up here from San Diego.

Robert and I made the best dinner last night:  grilled butterflied leg of lamb, small steamed artichokes, eggplan sauteed with a Chinese garlic sauce, and rice with lemon and dill (Rainey gave me that recipe last week after our walk.)

 I guess this is my food blog today!  Maintaining my recipes, watching the food network, and trying out recipes, and having people over to eat them, makes me realize that if I were asked what my hobbies are, I guess I'd have to say cooking!

This is a much happier weekend than last when I drove myself crazy being miserable--focusing on an old story.  After two days, I vividly saw how I can turn a switch in my head and make myself miserable, and then just as easily, get off it by not dwelling on the negative.  Hmmm.

The rain is pounding on my study window.  It's dark, but I still have work to finish.

I love the lovely sound of rain, I always have.

This last weekend I went to see Matchpoint (by Woody Allen).  It is set in London, and the theme is being lucky and getting what we "think" we want.  And the cost of that.

I am also reading Snobs, a novel by Julian Fellows on the identical theme--set in Englad and portraying the English upper classes and those who throw themselves at this citadel of exclusivity.  Oddly, I am always fascinated by these same themes--I, who have always considered myself to be particularly plebian and "democratic." Of course, I have my own snobberies and elitism.   I love English movies and English novels.  I watched a TV special on Windsor Castle the other night.  Fascinating display of protocol and tradition. I actually went to Windsor Castle when I visited England the first time in 1970.  I wanted to see the famous doll house there--doll houses being another fascination when you get to see a good one. My boyfriend at the time, John, took me for tea, and I had my first clotted cream.  Fabulous!  The day, the cream, John, and the doll house.

But tonight, I'm printing labels for my brochures.  How extraordinarily mundane.  But a comforting task on a rainy night. 

Welcome to my new website!

I am so happy to have this project done. 

This morning I went for a walk with Rainey, and we had 18 month-old Augie in the stroller.  We walked an hour and a half, and then sat outside in the sunshine for awhile in the back yard.  It's cold, but so soothing to be in the sun.

Augie was an angel today.  Anders (4) went for his endocrinology report and passed with flying colors!  (He has diabetes.)  We are all so happy.

I had tea dates with 3 friends yesterday, Mary, Ellen, and Selma.  So good to catch up.

It's 9:30 pm and the last four friends just left.  We had our monthly (this is the 3rd one) meeting to study EFT (emotional freedom technique.  You can check it out on www.emofree.com) 

We have a flexible group--this afternoon we had Susan (an artist), Mary Jo (the woman I interviewed for this month's column), Lynn, Margaret, Ellen F who is leading us, and myself.  We had an in-depth session, using the tapping techniques and sharing examples of relationship issues from our own dappled past.  We've all had some serious ups and downs--a weathered group, I would call us.

Afterwards, we had a candlelight potluck and ate enchiladas, salad, artisan breads with olive oil.  There was lemon cake, and we drank wine and mineral water. 

Our next meeting is March 13.  Another 13, just like today.  Thirteen is a karmic number of rebirth and transformation--perfectly fitting for what we are working on.

I enjoy the productivity and camaraderie of this group--a meeting of such interesting women.

Earlier, the morning was so utterly beautiful that I immediately went out into the garden and pulled a few weeds.  I planted the one daffodil bulb Ellen D gave me.  Where do you put one daffodil?

Robert helped me rearrange and fill some large pots.  I want to grow more herbs.  Why not?