Winter's back

I can tell you I did not have my morning coffee outside today.  Winter is back following a good rain storm last night.  But hope springs eternal, I know spring is around the corner and it looks like all is well.  

Beth and I are planning sheer outdoor sunbrella curtains for each of the two entrances to the pergola.  I had them once but did not have the rods secure enough and they were regular sheers, so they did not hold up well.  Sunbrella products are really good, so we are giving the place a new look.  The one thing I can't seem to get right are the pool umbrellas.  I need three or four and have, so far, thirteen! None of which are what I want.  Some were sent with the wrong color, some have a rope to raise them and for short people that does not work.  Some lose their color too fast, some pick up the dirt in the air and hold it like gold.  I fear for my life if I order four more.  At some point Andy is going to have a hemorrhage.  (While some women collect shoes, I collect pool umbrellas.) I may put them down by the road.  Things disappear in an instant when I do that.  One time Adam was cleaning out a shed and he would carry the items to the road and by the time he would walk up for another load what he had left would be gone. Yep, good stuff. So why not pool umbrellas?

I'm back to winter stews and today it is a fish chowder.  I stirred in a big spoon full of grainy mustard and it turned out to be even more delicious.

WaaaWaaa, after 57 years my springform pan has broken.  I bought this in California when Andy and I went there to work the day after our wedding.  May and Company was the department store where this was purchased for $8.  Many a cheesecake has been baked in this pan and I will miss it in my batterie de cuisine.