Yes, I'm back! I couldn't pass up this chance to reflect on the past year, 2008. And what a year it was. I think a list will serve my purpose best.

Both Big F and I had a job. Teaching elementary art- finish carpenter. Thankful. Gas prices hit above the $4.oo mark.

Most of our at home time was taken up with wedding prep- it was fun.

Shower for A given by my friend C and myself. Lots of fun. I love giving parties.

Sad time was losing my mom- she had been in a nursing home for 3 1/2 years. I really miss her.

May- N and A's wedding- wonderful, more than I have ever hoped for. Beautiful, beautiful.

Saw many friends and relatives including my sister-in-law at the wedding.

Found my lost friend Rebecca, my reservation friend and world traveling companion. WOW.

T got a job as a principal downstate and moved- I lost my friend, neighbor and colleague.

Vacationed in Stratford , Canada. Stayed at Little Piece of Heaven B&B. Saw Cabaret. Stayed in Bayfield, Little Inn of Bayfield. Must be 12 years now going with M and R.

Got a grand dog named Wash. Big F finished a grand sauna. Organized and gave away lots of stuff. Cleaned out the polebarn with lots of effort from Big F.

Got a new president for my birthday. Yea, Barack.

Celebrated Thanksgiving in Ann Arbor with N, A, and Wash. Green chili enchiladas.

Celebrated Christmas here with N, A, Wash, R and M, C and Big F and Mudge. Turkey and ham.

Celebrated another wedding anniversary the day after Christmas. Again, WOW.

Read lots of books, saw more movies than I ever have before (Netflix), finished another year going to the gym.

Quietly at home tonight reading and listening to music. A fire in the woodstove, full from Chicken Tikka Masala for supper, had a sauna this afternoon, ending the year with ones I love- Big F and Mudge. Some may say my life isn't very exciting, but then, I don't want it to be. I'm happy with the way it has been. Grateful for all. Who knows what tomorrow will bring besides 2009.

Aunt B Eats at the Radish. I spent a pleasant afternoon in TC all by myself, just cruising around. Thought I would try out the newest restaurant in town. The Radish is a small upbeat place that seats about 10. Since it was a beautiful day, I sat outside under some shade trees. Very comfortable. The fare is salad and soup presented in a cafeteria style of build your own and pay by the pound. Radish boasts local grown, organic grown, support local farmers, slow food movement with a 50+ salad and toppings. All very clean and attractive. I had an ordinary salad with greens, blue cheese chunks, and some mandarin oranges topped with a raspberry dressing of some kind. I also had a bowl of cheese soup. It all came to a little over $8 ( only pay for the salad by the pound so fill the soup bowl to the top).

Here's my take: I think the whole idea of supporting local farmers with fresh homegrown is a great idea. The soup was really tasty, hot, and very cheesy. The decor was pleasant- nothing flashy or over the top. But, I thought it was a little pricey for a salad. The lady behind me was a shocked when her salad came to $13. I also thought it could be disastrous if you put on a multiple of toppings that tasted horrible together. This reminded me of Mongolian Barbecue where you can put all kinds of toppings on your rice. Sometimes it is too much and the idea is that you just don't eat it and get something else. I guess Radish is one of those places where you look for toppings that are light weight and you don't experiment. Just take what you really like. It seems like it would defeat the purpose if you threw away the food. Throwing away food is one of my pet peeves.

So, I think this is the place to get a nice bowl of yummy soup and perhaps a small side salad. I do wish them luck because I think it is a good cause. I wonder if I could trade them some of my garden grown zucchini for a salad?

Rare or invasive? I found a Helleborine orchid (Epipactics helleborine) growing up through the brick edging of my garden. To say the least, I was thrilled since I love orchids. After some research, I found that this garden wonder can be tenacious and grow most everywhere including in gravel and some folks claim it to be invasive. In Wisconsin, it has started taking over undisturbed habitat. In its native habitat, in the south of France it is protected. It is also found in England where it is considered a rarity.

It really is quite beautiful with a small tower of green buds which open to a star shaped flower with a tinge of purple and the bulb lip of an orchid. It is a very curious plant since I couldn't find it in my wildflower book under pink or purple-blue flowers. I finally went back to the green, brown section and found it. The books says it is found in SE Canada an NE US. It is usually growing under foliage. Very interesting.

I now have three types of wild orchids on my land. Pink Lady Slippers, Purple-fringed orchids, and this helleborine.

So, should I pull it up or nurture it?

A new month and a new car? No, it just looks new because I cleaned it today. Boy, what is the world coming to? I like my car, I like a clean car, but I am not a fanatic or even near a fanatic when it comes to the cleanliness of my ride. I just want the car to go, stop, and get me to my destination. But, I have been meaning to get out there and really give the buggy a cleaning. I usually consider my car as an extra room or a shed and I have all kinds of goodies from school in the backseat or in the wayback. At this moment there are two blankets and a quilt in the wayback and a six pack of Honey Moon beer bottles to return to the store. I got all of the pennies out, I cleaned out the popcorn under the front seat, and I found a lifetime's supply of inkpens that had fallen down between the edge of the two front seats. I will spare the details of all of the other junk in and under the seats, but I can tell you that my car hasn't looked this good since I bought it nearly 10 years ago. No, I'm not interested in a detailing side job. I even hate to tell FB because his jeep is a mess and I don't want to do this job again for a loonnngg time!

One of my favorite plants this time of year is the white lilac tree I have just off the patio and right outside the windows from my desk. It was glorious this year with fluffy white blossoms all over the tree (somehow the frost missed it). And, fragrance, well, it was almost sicky sweet. The rose chafers loved it and had a grand time buzzing around. Bees and wasps were attracted and so were yellow and black swallowtailed butterflies. It has lasted about a week, but now it is turning brown and the petals are showering down. A few plumes of flower remain as a last minute reminder of its past beauty. Its just a lonely little lilac tree at the end of the lilac hedge. Well, its given us much pleasure.

Aunt B Drinks: Yes, I found a new favorite dessert/sweet wine- Innocent Bystander Victoria Pink Moscato 2007 ( Australian). Such a lovely sunset pink in a 1/2 bottle. And, yum. It tastes like watermelon, sherbet ice cream, strawberries, and rose petals. Called a "delicious sipper", it has a mouth-tingling fizz. The 1/2 bottle would be just right for four small servings along with something equally as sweet, maybe brownies. I tried a full glass and it was a bit much for one serving. Comes with a floral label and a pop-top crown seal. I wish someone would pay me a visit before I drink the whole bottle. Price: $10-14 depending on where you live. It is definitely a cool, refreshing summer sipper.

Oh where, oh where, has my Granddog gone? Oh where, oh where, can he be? Wash, where are you?

Yes, spring has finally come to northern Michigan. We took the first snake out of the basement. To all friends and neighbors who visit, I heard a collective sigh of relief. I know it is rather disconcerting thinking of a snake crawling out of the closet as we sit in the living room sipping a glass of wine. Some come in and warily look around. CT put on her socks. I don't know how this is any protection from a snake, but I understand. Even though the snake is gone, I have my suspicions that there may be more. The dog usually sniffs them out. Good ole Mudgie the snake dog. So, the ground has warmed up enough for the snakes to come out of hibernation and this warmth will be good for the garden. Finally, spring or maybe summer.

Love in the Time of Cholera, the flic, was pretty true to the book. I'm not sure if I liked it or not. The main character,Florentino, was pretty crazy. We find out later that the guy's father was crazy too. Then there is sexual abuse, which adds more to the trauma. I'm sure there is a medical or psychological term for his condition, but I can't think of it. So basically, the guy stalked women and added them to his list of conquests. All this in the name of love. At least, the main characters idea of love. Anyway, Florentino, stays obsessed with Fermina even after 50 years, and waits for Fermina's husband to die. The old girl (on the rebound) doesn't believe anything bad about the old guy and quickly jumps into bed with him. How harmless. I thought the movie was kinda creepy.

I'm leaving out the details, because you'll have to judge for yourself.

The wedding was more than I had ever hoped for. And after having a party for four days, my weary self is ready to go back to the mundane. Clean my house-not for a while. Take stuff back to people who helped with food and all. Yes! I hate to close down too quickly something that took a whole year to plan. I want to take my time putting things back in place.

So, we had a heavy frost on the Tuesday after the wedding freezing the tops of the plants in the window boxes even though they were covered. It froze the peppers and the tender leaves on the roses. It turned the climbing hydrangeas to brown. Gosh darn ole Northern Michigan! I planted the tomatoes and zucchini today. FB planted six new rose bushes. We call roses annuals because very few make it through the winter. Anyway, gardening was on the agenda this weekend.

We are also part of a family yard sale. I can't believe how much junk we have accumulated. I just wish a big truck would pull in and take it so it would be done once and for all. As it is, anything that doesn't sell has to be taken to Goodwill or somewhere. I wonder if we could refrain from buying stuff for a year.

The good news is that I have gone to the gym for a year.

I saw my first Swallowtail butterfly. Still no snakes.

OK, is that post ordinary enough?

The chimneys for the table centerpieces are washed and packed securely, I have ironed half of the green chiffon table runners, and I have half vacuumed the bedroom... I need a break from wedding prep! So, time for ..

Bird watch: the indigo bunting has been at the feeder for about a week. I put out the hummingbird feeder and have watched a male hummer buzz around my orange and fuchsia geraniums. All sure signs of spring and right on target for arriving . I checked my blog from last year to make sure. And I saw a pair of Yellow-rumped Warblers. Must be passing through since I have never seen them before.

Butterfly alert: We spotted a Silvery Blue near the snowball bush. Oh, what a beautiful blue. I wish my butterfly book, Butterflies of the Great Lakes Region by Douglas and Douglas, was better at showing the opened wings. Some of the butterflies show both the opened wings and the side view. It would be easier to identify the butterfly!!! Maybe I'll look for a new book.

Ok, back to Wedding Woman.

By this time next week it will be over. Most of the guests will be gone and our house will be pretty quiet. I'm hoping some of the folks will linger awhile and sort of wean me off of all the excitement, organizing, and planning. What will I have to talk about?

The wedding, of course. And I will have pictures.

The Miracle at Speedy Motors by Alexander McCall Smith is a fun, fast read. Precious Ramotswe does it again. She solves the mystery, helps everyone save face, and life goes on with simple, everyday miracles. The story seems a little preachy, but I like the lessons. I like the way Smith has the characters grow and change. He definitely is a good storyteller. I may put this series on my "have to read again this summer" list.

Warm out there today. Got lots of yard work done. However, it's so dry that I put the irrigation on for the garden next to the house. We ate every meal at the patio table and enjoyed the sun for all of the coffee inbetween.

And I sighted my first butterfly- black with yellow around the wing edges. I think it was a Mourning Cloak.

So, Spring is here. We need rain badly. And of course, snow could come any day until the first of June. Oh, joy to Spring!

Have you ever eaten farro? I just ran across a recipe for Farro and Porcini risotto in the Martha Stewart magazine. I understand it's a hearty wheat grain. It reminds me of barley. It sounds very tasty and since I've never tried it, intriguing.

I wonder if they have it at Zingerman's in Ann Arbor. I 'm putting in a request for some right now. I love trying out new foods.

Sigh.. The bridal shower has ended. And let me tell you, it was a success. My friends each had a part in the preparation, so making the food was a breeze. I had help on Friday getting the dishes out and ready. It is a tradition to use the old glass plates that come with cups called hostess sets. I inherited a few sets from my mom and I have been collecting them. They are great to hold on ones lap. We don't mind washing them either. We also used some paper plates, although we tried to stay green by using cloth napkins. Thank goodness for the help of friends.

We had orange, yellow, and white pansies as favors and a lovely centerpiece of passionate pink gerber daisies, orange tulips, and a yellow spider mum sitting on a bed of polished rocks surrounded by curly wood branches. This was all placed on a pretty white and green tablecloth. The house looked very springy even though it snowed a good inch and all of the trees were white.

The menu consisted of: chicken salad, veggies and dip, cheese, crackers, and fruit, and Big Fred's famous chocolate cake and cheesecake. Yum!

Our theme was an "around the clock" shower. The idea is to give the guests a time and their present is to be related to that time. Boy, did this get some hoots. The guests were very creative and even though it took a while to get through all of the gifts and all of the explanations, it was really fun. There were a few moments of embarrassment as the last gift was for 12 noon or midnight from the sister-in-law. We also played bride bingo. Everyone took home some pansies.

You had to be there to understand the joy. Now, on to the wedding.

We are having the first rain of April. The grass is going green before my very eyes. The leaves on the trees are popping. The ground is so gray with all of the winter's coverings. This rain will also give a chance for the mold and mildew to take a rest. Car noises are muffled as they pass on the highway outside my yard and picket fence. Just a splashing. I feel like nature is taking a breath as she waits to exhale in all her leafy splendor. I know my garden plants could use a drink. Fog is suppose to move in tonight and we are suppose to have rain tomorrow. I like the way it slows down the pace. I feel sheltered in this April rain.

It's Spring Break and am I in sunny Jamaica or the Bahamas or Key West? Of course not, I'm in my sunny back and front yard. It was a really pleasant day in these parts, so I have spring fever. I cleaned out the flower gardens on the east side of the house and raked until my back hurt. Big Fred got the picnic table and chairs out and we had our coffee sitting on the back patio. Thank goodness winter is on the outs. That doesn't mean winter is over. Oh no, many a year we have had snow in April and May. But, the end is in sight.

On the inside, I am getting ready for the wedding shower. That means cleaning the house to make it presentable for company. Since I have a small house, it doesn't take too much work. I'm really excited about the whole thing.

Got the wedding invitation yesterday, so it's official. I think it is something like 49 days before the big event. Wooppee ki yeaaa ! I really have to get cleaning.

Don't the birds know that there is still snow on the ground and we are due for low temperatures at night and snow is on its way. The ground is still frozen solid except on the south side of the house and in the driveway. The grackles and the red winged blackbirds have arrived back at the bird feeder. I have trouble believing that Spring is near, but Mother Nature is in charge, so what can I say.

Spring, spring, spring is here. Last week on Fri., we saw the first pair of sandhill cranes. Now, I think they eat plants from the bottom of the pond. Gee, I hope they will survive. Today, just moments ago, I saw my first robin sitting in the birch tree just outside my window. It is also snowing. Poor little robin.

My first sign of spring is tapping trees for maple sugar. Just down the road, the neighbors have hung bags on their maple trees. It probably is good weather for making sap since it warms up in the day and is cold at night. The sugarbush down on Mayfield curve hasn't started, but then, one by one the maple syrup making tradition has been leaving the area. As a kid, we always looked forward to going the Colon's sugarbush shack to breathe in the sweet moist maple sap air and the sample of new syrup from an old ladle. Nowdays, I find the old time syrup too sweet, and go for the imitation on my homemade pancakes.

I loved the new Maise Dobbs mystery, An Incomplete Revenge, by Jacqueline Winspear. It has gypsies. I love reading about gypsies. It has Maurice, her mentor. It has the intricate workings of the way Maise solves the mystery. It has a small town shrouded in secrecy. It has her father, horses, and a gypsy dog. Always have to have a dog to make a good story. Anyway, I breezed right through it, and now I need something to read!!! I have read every Maise Dobbs mystery. Infact, I was the first to get this book at my hometown library.

Yikes, 99 days before the biiigggg wedding! What more can I say. :)

Here's Moomer's Ice Cream wedding logo.

The Commoner by John Burnham Schwartz is a study of life in the royal circle, the marriage of Japanese royalty to a commoner. It was a very interesting read. I think this would make a great movie.

People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks is a fine book. I was especially interested in Jewish history including the fact that King Ferdinand and q. Isabella expelled the Jews from Spain in 1492. Of course, there is more to it than Jewish history, the story is sad and full of violence and every human indignity imaginable. And the main character is from Australia. Lots of twists and turns as they follow the history of an antique book. I really enjoyed it. I'll bet it is made into a movie.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak was scary, gloomy, sad, and "in your face". How else can Nazi Germany be described? Perhaps this book was written for young adults, but it was superbly efficient in getting across the feelings and actions of German citizens. I think we need reminding that every German was not a Hitler fan. I think it would be a good read for high school students.

I thought the use of color and Death as the narrator was very clever. The writing was very descriptive. The story is hopeful and realistic. The human spirit always amazes me as is seen in this story.

The Zoo Keeper's Wife (A War Story)by Diane Akerman pairs animals in the Warsaw Zoo with the lives of 300 Jews. Animals and people try to survive in the war torn city. This story is based on the journals of Antonia Zabinski , the zoo keeper's wife. Again, it is amazing how the human spirit and perseverance is forefront in dire times. Jan and Antonia give up their zoo animals to German Nazi zoos and a ravaged city, but help Jews hid in cages and tunnels throughout the zoo grounds. I never much thought about zoos during wartime.

I guess I'm on a Nazi , war kick. I found the book very interesting. It makes me wonder about the zoos in Iraq and Afghanistan. I wonder...