Oh, alright, already. Stop begging, blog-reading world. I'm really, really busy, but if it's what the people want, well, here goes: I have been hiding out and, perhaps, putting all my energy into high school English, and tutoring a homebound student. We finished A Streetcar Named Desire and watched the 1951 film starring Brando and Vivien Leigh. Let me tell you that high school sophomores are pretty hard on Blanche Dubois. I know, because I just finished reading eighty-five essays about her, and they do not cut her much slack. They will all be thrilled tomorrow to discover that we are beginning a lengthy unit on poetry - and trust me, there's nothing that sophomores like more than reading good poetry. hmmmm-mmmm.

I have been slow to announce to you that the Smithlings made their appearance in Cleveland on April 14th! They are Henry Michael and Eli Nicholas and they are small, but doing well and we are all thankful for their safe arrival here on earth. Congratulations to all the Smith's and all the Hamlin's. We are anxious to meet them.

It's mushroom and tulip time in Indiana! Bob found these in the swamp and we served them tonight with steak, asparagus and little red potatoes. Yummy. Of course, these tulips are from Wal-mart, because, once again, the deer ate all of mine except for a couple here and there.

I hosted my Tri Kappa Chapter on Wednesday night. Every April we have the AFS student come and address the group. Here's the group. Man, this is a terrible picture, by the way. I've cut people off! The student this year is a lovely girl, who told us about her country and also told us what every AFS student tells us every year, that she's gained weight during her stay in America. What does this say about us and the way we eat??? Having said that, I promise to post a recipe, yet this week, for hearty, cheese-stuffed meatballs.

"I'm afraid it's me dear. I rather think I send his senses reeling."

Hyacinth Bucket (pronounced Bouquet)

Happy Easter! Happy Spring! And, Happy Spring Break to me, as I'm off this coming week. We had a wonderful holiday. I like to do our traditional Easter dinner at our house, but Lindsey and Brent had never been to Easter Sunday Services at their own church, in Indianapolis, because they've been coming up here for the Holiday, so we said we would spend Easter with them and attend services at North United Methodist Church in Indy. Bob and I went down on Saturday afternoon. He helped them put up some new light fixtures, then we colored eggs and watched some college basketball. On Sunday morning, Brent's parents drove down and we all went to the 11:00 AM service. It ended with the choir members coming down into the aisles and joining the entire congregation in the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel's Messiah and it was glorious!

Afterwards we enjoyed our traditional Easter dinner: Honeybaked ham, cheesey potatoes, asparagus, walnut/dried cherry/apple salad with maple dressing, deviled eggs, coconut cake and key lime pie.

We had no kids around, so we hid an Easter egg for Bonnie the Barbarian to find. Oh, I know what you're thinking, that's weird. And, you just might be right. First, we peeled it and we let her sniff it. Then, I picked her up and let her see that Lindsey was walking off with it. Then, I turned around so she couldn't see where Lindsey was going with it. Then, I put her down and we told her to go find it. She ran out in the backyard, but then ran to the front, because she was distracted by something - who knows what. With some proddingand coaxing, she returned to the back yard and Brent's Dad steered her in the right direction and we took some pictures. Yup, that's what we did.

I have no recipe to post, but I plan to do some cooking this week and hope to have something exciting for you in the next issue. I leave you with a picture of Bonnie, the victorious Barbarian and her prize and her cartoon counterpart.