Birthday Boy

Ken celebrated a milestone birthday yesterday by turning one of those numbers divisible by 11. Happy Birthday sweetie!

We started our day with a 5am wake-up call so we could get to an interesting looking sale about 40 minutes north of town. Sadly it turned out to be a total bust but the drive was nice and it gave us time to finish a second cup of coffee in the car. The second sale of the day was the annual Cayuga Heights fire department sale (set up in the BIG fire house). We showed up at 7:30am for an 8am start and were surprised to be 5th or 6th in line. Our friend Bill was already there and Dan arrived soon after. While we were waiting a little tussle broke out in the area where they had the bikes and outdoor toys displayed. Guess some folks were trying to get a head start on their shopping. Ken thought some may have been trying to cut the line. In either case I just didn't see why it was worth an argument.

Once we got inside more mayhem ensued - in fact it was a total zoo! Ken headed straight for the books and artwork while I honed in on the kitchen and household area. In between scouring for my own treasures I got a great kick out of watching Bill and Dan in action. They zoomed through the fire hall like they were on some kind of critical military reconnaissance mission and in no time they'd made three or four complete passes of the space in the time it took me to go through twice. After wards Ken and I hit a few more sales in town and then we decided it was time to get home and prepare for the birthday dinner.

Our celebration included an evening at home with our friends Dave and Lucia who arrived with a chilled bottle of champagne and Lucia's homemade lemon pot de creme with raspberries (it was amazing). Dinner was Ceasar salad and pork tenderloin from the grill. We lingered long over our meal out on the deck. In years past it's been too cold for an outdoor party, but yesterday we hit mid the 80's. It almost feels like July!

Here's some current views of the garden and our most recent tenants.
Momma robin has a nest full of babies.

The rhododendron is at peak and it is gorgeous this year!

The peonies will pop in the next week or two
and the ants are at work on them already.

I know this post is way too long but before I sign off I just have to leave you with another recipe. Enjoy!

Deb's Best Ceasar Dressing
4 or 5 cloves of garlic
1/2 to 2/3 cups Asagio cheese chopped into small pieces
1 tbs of stone-ground mustard (I use Amy's organic with horseradish)
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1/2 - 1 tbs anchovy paste (don't skip this even if you think you HATE anchovies - it really makes the dressing)
3 raw eggs
1/2 cup olive oil
1 1/2 vegetable oil
Juice of half a lime
1/2 - 1 tsp freshly cracked pepper

In a food processor combine the Asagio chesse and garlic. Process until well ground. Add mustard, Worcestershire sauce, anchovy paste, cracked pepper and eggs and process until well blended. Keep the food processor running and slowly and steadily drizzle in the oil. (This is the trickiest part but you really do get the hang of it after a one or two tries and the end result is totally worth it.) The mixture start will gradually emulsify and get lighter in color and should be about the consistency of mayonaise. Add the lime juice after all of the oil is in. Keeps in the frig in a well sealed container for about three or four days though it may not last that long since you'll be tempted to sit down and eat it with a spoon right then and there! Makes a great veggie dip, is outrageous on a sandwich in place of mayo and of course in a salad made with romaine, thin slices of red onion and croutons.