I had a lovely New Year's day and New Year's Eve day too.  I was surrounded by well wishes, wishes of health, wishes of peace, wishes filled with love.  My friend made special love-filled cupcakes and told me to light the candle and not blow it out until it was down to the icing. 

 

I did.

 

Okay - this picture has nothing to do with A Taste of Honey, but it is just an irresistible picture and starting the year with a bit of quirkiness is a good thing, I think.

 

But I digress.

 

A Taste of Honey is happening here at 6pm on Thursday, January 26th.  A fundraiser for ASAP (Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Projects), who do so much for local produce in our area, it is a chance to do the following:

1) Help ASAP

2) meet some local beekeepers

3) Help me (by tasting the honeys that I will feature in my book and helping describe them)

4) taste some honey-inspired foods and some foods that need bees for pollination

5) be part of the kickoff to a whole year of ASAP events

6) have fun!

 

The event is just $35.00 which gives you all of the above.  We'll have honey-lemonade for you.  If you'd like wine or beer, we'll have that for sale.

 

Monday, January 9

Almond and Brie Stuffed Chicken 8.25

 

Tuesday, January 10

Italian-style Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms and Potatoes 7.25

 

Wednesday, January 11

Braised Pork with Chive Butter Potatoes (GF) 8.95

 

Thursday, January 12

Crabcakes with Caper Dijon Tartar and Cole Slaw 10.25

 

Friday, January 13

Orange, Ginger + Garlic Pan-seared Salmon w/ Cous Cous 9.95

 

Give us a call by noon and we'll have your dinners ready by 3. You can come until 7.

 

Call by noon and then come pick up between 4 and 7 that day!

 

Wednesday, January 11

Mac and Cheese with Roasted Vegetables

Full: 32 Half:16

 

Friday, January 13

Spinach Lover’s Lasagna

And here is another example of that detail.  Boxes of lunch get made here each morning and since the kitchen is too small, the cafe tables get pushed together and the assembly line commences. 

 

Looking back it was just New Year's Eve.  And before that, Christmas.  This weekend is the weekend we, my staff and I, celebrate the season.  Since we're generally too busy to pay attention to the time most people celebrate, sharing an afternoon in January makes a lot of sense.

 

I've been systematically cleaning my home, one room at a time.  It is a very healing thing to do, sweeping away the detritus of the season, opening up space for my friends to come, thinking about what way I might want to rearrange things.

 

I'm not big on moving things but I do now find myself moving small things and embracing the changes.  My sister gave me a new painting for Christmas and so finding the right spot for it is a big deal, though it is a small thing in other ways.  I hung it on the wall in my bedroom which means I look at it all the time.  It is not in the perfect spot yet, though it is close.

 

And I found a little display light that is meant to go under a glass piece, illuminating it and making it glisten.  I've never even taken this light out of its box, but did so the other day and am currently displaying a piece of glass I made a few years ago.  It is beautiful with its new light, reminding me of the pleasure I have in making glass things.  Must get back to that!  This year for sure.

 

Tomorrow I have to clean up my kitchen, after doing some cooking.  I have honey everywhere and need to bring it to work to get ready for the event on January 26th (I hope you can come.) Seeing all the honey and paying attention to my bees, who were out flying today, reminds me of the importance of this book I am writing.  We need to save the bees and I hope this book will help them by bringing attention to them and to what we can do to help. 

 

And I need to straighten out my downstairs area too, organizing the bee equipment and making sure my bicycle is ready for spring.  I plan to get back on my bike as soon as I can following this upcoming surgery.  Now, while I still feel good, is a good time to get my bike and biking things in order. 

 

I'm collecting good luck charms, wish charms, things that might help me as I continue to travel on this steep, scary path.  I have a new bracelet that I am to wear until it falls off, at which point I get my wish.  I have a collection of necklaces, bee charms, magic beads and magic-filled pouches.  I believe in all of them and wear or look at or jostle them each day.  So far, so good.  Can't hurt, right?  And if I believe, then they will surely help.

 

So this weekend I am gathering with some of the folks who have helped me so much in this adventure, some friends, some staff, some family.  I would not feel as strong without them, without you, without the charms and the magic, the gems and the cards and the flowers, which bloom right when they need to.

 

And in the meantime, I have this book to write (I'm about 1/3 done) and recipes to test and glass to imagine and dogs to pet and bees to love.  It's good.  Things are full and I feel healthy for now and that's all good.