Champagne wishes and coupon dreams...: Last freaky deaky weekend in May!

It's 5:30 a.m. on a sunday. I'd like to think I should be sleeping, but my body (and mind) have other plans. So, here I am writing a post about it. Nope, don't think so.

Quick update on the "farm" -we've got green stuff growing and for once, it's not mold. The rhubarb came back to life, I certainly thought that I had killed the bitch. But she's a strong one and had to show me one up. She actually likes 30 year old chicken shit in a tire.

Peas are producing! We've had a couple of yummy snow and snap peas, but just enough for snacking right off the vine. *note to self: next year plant, like, fifty of these. Twelve is definitely not enough for this family.

CUKES! They had seen the light in my mini cold frame and are thriving now that we transplanted them next to the trellis. *another note to self: next year plant, fifty of these. Again, twelve is NOT going to be enough. Good thing is, I started these from seed and still have plenty left. We'll get more started soon!

Potatoes were finally planted and nothing has spouted yet. These bastards are supposed to be one of the easiest to grow. Let's hope so, because my black thumb does not need a come back.

AND... that's all I've got. Sorry no pictures -I'm lame like that at 5:30 a.m.

We had a most excellent time with a new friend on Friday, and guess what I have a few pictures from it.

Yes, that's all I got out of our entire exciting day. I had the camera out for a brief moment and forgot about it. We were so wrapped up in laughing, sharing, and wondering how in the hell we hadn't met before! Carrie, I had so much fun on our first date, I hope we can meet up again soon. I truly think we were great friends in another life - there is just too much weird stuff that we have in common, and that we were destined to meet up again. Am I being stalkerish now?

Saturday we spent the day at the Juan de Fuca Festival and had so much fun and little tears. When we got home it was time for me to get domesticated again and start our new recipe for the week. Now, usually I'm not one to go all out on a new recipe, and I wasn't about to start it now. I just so happened to have all the right stuff in my freezer/fridge for this next recipe.

Now, have I a fantabulous recipe for you. You must go out and get this stuff right away -although 6 a.m. may or may not be the best time for this. I originally came across Old Bay seasoning in Martha's latest Everyday Food mag. The memories started flooding in about dinners at the Crab Pot on Seattle's waterfront and on Lake Bellevue. I HAD TO MAKE THIS!

THE ORIGINAL OLD BAY SHRIMP BOIL SHRIMP FEST

find the website and original recipe here

INGREDIENTS

4 quarts water (16 cups)

1 can (12 ounces) beer (optional)

1/2 cup OLD BAY® Seasoning

2 tablespoons salt

8 medium red potatoes, quartered

2 large onions, cut into wedges

2 pounds lean smoked sausage, cut into 2-inch pieces

8 ears fresh corn, shucked and halved crosswise

4 pounds unpeeled jumbo shrimp (21 to 25 count)

DIRECTIONS

Bring water, beer, OLD BAY Seasoning and salt to boil in 12-quart stockpot on high heat. Add potatoes and onions. Cook 8 minutes. Add smoked sausage. Cook 5 minutes. Add corn. Cook 7 minutes.

Stir in shrimp. Cook 4 minutes or just until shrimp turn pink.

Drain cooking liquid. Pour contents of pot into large serving bowl or platter. Or, mound on paper-covered table. Sprinkle with additional OLD BAY Seasoning, if desired.

And now my pictures

aweful picture- but true to color on the stock, I forgot to whip out the camera early enough. In the above picture is the water, Old Bay seasoning, and onion. I also didn't get a pic of the potatoes. Note: yukon golds are not baby reds and they cook faster.