Menarda, or Bee Balm, is a great addition to the flower bed because it looks good for a long time and the hummingbirds like it. It's prime-Menarda-time here in northern Indiana, and we're seeing a lot of daylily activity as well.

Bob was on vacation this week, but I worked for Sally at the park department. He spent his time trying to get things going on our new addition, and by that, I mean the deck and big tree removal mentioned in last week's post. Alas, it did not happen because the guys went up the tree, cut a couple of limbs, got worried, and came back down. They decided they needed a crane, and we haven't heard a peep from them since. So, we've had more tree trimmers come out and give estimates and after some discussion, it was decided that the beech tree would have to go, also, so Bob took that down, with some help from neighbors, this afternoon. We also got some new carpeting for the family room on Thursday.

My sister's dog, Puppa Sade, is missing from my family dog cartoon lineup. She's been on the drawing board for a long time and I'm feeling guilty about it. It's because she's hard to draw, and I'm not sure why, but I think it's her ears. Puppa Sade is a very nice little Shih Tzu. She sort of reminds me of a Furby. You remember Furbies. They said things like "Feed me," and "Yum," and they didn't like loud noises. Oh, and they said "Coco," and I don't know if the one we had was named Coco or if they all said that, or what. Anyway, Puppa Sade, in her Shih Tzuiness, looks a little like a Furby, and she has one eye that's somewhat askew, which makes her look a little like the late character actor, Jack Elam, who lost lost the sight in his eye when a fellow boyscout threw a pencil at him at a troop meeting.

I considered drawing Puppa Sade as the typical googly-eyed Shih Tzu, like this:

But she never wears her hair like this, so it's inaccurate. For now, this is the best I can do, unless any of you have can offer me assistance. And, I hope that I have not offended anyone in my family by making light of Puppa Sade's eye affliction, because she's a wonderful dog, who almost never barks.

Recipe of the Week: Is one that I found in the American Profile magazine that comes out with the Saturday paper. It's pretty tasty, but rich, so you might want to serve it with a simple vegetable.

Crabmeat au Gratin

1/3 cup unsalted butter

1 large onion, finely chopped

1 medium celery stalk, finely chopped

1/2 cup flour

2 (12-ounce) cans low-fat evaporated milk

2 egg yolks

3/4 teaspoon black pepper

1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1 pound fresh crabmeat, picked over for shells and cartilage

1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease an 11 X 7 inch baking dish. Melt butter in a large skilled over medium heat. Add onion and celery; cook until onions are translucent, about 6 minutes, stirring frequently.

Add flour and stir until well blended. Cook 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Gradually add milk, stirring constantly. Add a ladle of milk mixture to beaten egg yolks; stir well. Pour egg mixture back into milk mixture in skillet. Add salt, cayenne and black pepper; book, stirring until thickened, about 5 minutes.

Place crabmeat in a medium bowl. Add sauce and mix gently but thoroughly to blend. Spoon into prepared pan and sprinkle with cheese. Bake, uncovered, 25 minutes, or until cheese melts and begins to lightly brown.

"If you're being chased by an angry bull, and then you notice you're also being chased by a swarm of bees, it doesn't really change things. Just keep running." Jack Handey