It was a great treat to host this year's annual meeting. The small turnout was typical, and huge thanks to Barb and Kosta for traveling from Templeton, California to Eugene, Oregon for the "event." And to Julian Brogi, who live north and west of us and had about a two-hour drive each way.
As promised, I took a snap of Barb with the Tomato Tree.
At this point, it was about 6-1/2 feet tall. I should
have had Julian pose with it as well - at 6-foot-five he'd have shown it's true height. Of course it has grown some since then. At least it is producing several dozen fruits. For those who want to know, this is an Early Girl - and this growth is something new to me although I usually plant one every year in about the same spot. Even the patio tomatoes are twice their normal height. It was either the organic fish ferilizer that I used this year (instead of chicken poop) or a bid for sunlight now that we removed a tree that was shading most of the deck, or both. At least I might get enough tomatoes to pay for the plants this year. Doesn't always happen. The deck is the only place for these plants - the yard is both shady and overrun with wildlife that like to nibble, rip, tear, stomp, and eat what it can.
Julian was a bit delayed and he has had the "garden tour" previously, so Gary took Barb and Kosta on a trip around the house.
Gary, Kosta, and Barb standing at attention beside the meditation shelter in the side yard. The little red thing dangling in the tree is a Forest Fairy - made by and purchased from some friends who have conducted a number of fund-raisers to save a meadow in their neighborhood from development. They have actaully managed to purchase the property (the whole neighborhood participates in this) and recently have planted milkweed and other plants to support butterflies (Monarchs) and other small species that come to the meadow. (I normally don't do fairies, but it was all in a good cause.)
Barb wanted a photo of her in her Tomfolio shirt, so I obliged before I dashed back into the house to tend to lunch. (I never did find time to run in and change into MY Tomfolio shirt, which would have been appropriate had I been thinking.) This is when I missed Julain's call that he would be delayed! Wouldn't you know it - four minutes I was out. Then I couldn't seem to call him back to let him know I had received the message. Well, he was on his way and nothing would change that so it didn't matter much. When he did arrive and we had engaged in some social time, I called a meeting to order, announced that we could not conduct business without a quorum, and suggested that Barb and Julian count ballots while I finished dishing up the menu. Gary and Kosta rattled on in the living room while Barb and Julian counted at the kitchen table. With the ballots counted, I (from the stove) called for an adjournment. It was so moved and seconded and the motion passed. So we adjourned to the deck for lunch.
We lifted a toast to Tomfolio - with everyone else driving, Gary was the only one who had wine, but the toast was conducted with ice water, iced tea, and root beer in addition to the wine....I thought I was being clever giving Julian and Kosta elbow-room at the table, but I should have put Julian on the inside. As you can see, the roof over this end of the deck slopes down and for Julian it was a head-cracker. I'm happy to report that the roof stayed up and Julian recovered quickly.
The menu consisted of slow-roasted chicken thighs rubbed with granulated garlic and home-grown ground rosemary, etc.; three-cheese and spinach and ricotta tortellini, dressed with lightly sauteed green onions, red bell pepper, grape tomatoes, and fresh basil in fruity olive oil and topped with parmesan; a bed of baby herb salad greens with peeled and sliced ripe organic tomatoes, marinated artichoke hearts, sliced Walla Wall sweet onions (the best the world, ahem), drizzled with extra virgin olive oil and Umi plum vinegar and topped with feta cheese; and a cheese foccacia bread, a bowl of Greek olives...plus a bowlful of the gorgeous ripe cherries that Julian had picked up from one of the farms near his place. We ended with a very sinful Boston Cream Pie with glazed cherries. No one went away hungry, and we had a remarkably similar menu for supper that night!
So .... if it can't be about business it can at least be about food and friendship! Ya'all can come back any time....
Comments (0)
You don't have permission to comment on this page.