Girls' Weekend -- Part II

First, let me offer my sincerest apologies for the delay in this second installment. First blogger was inaccessible (to me anyway), then I took some extended and much needed time away from the computer, and third -- I haven't been inspired to write at all. I haven't had writer's block since 1997...I really didn't know what to do. However, I have been reading like mad, in some vain hope for inspiration.

Okay, now let's get on to to the good stuff. I forgot to mention that K. and I went to a wine tasting on Friday night before dinner. It was free, not crowded, and I liked the majority of the wines. What's not cool about that?

Saturday -- late morning, early afternoon -- BERRY PICKING! K., Natalie, and I went to Reed Valley Orchard, in Bourbon County, for their Blueberry Jubilee and Pancake Day! We were a bit later getting out there than we would have liked, so we missed out on the pancakes (darn!), and there weren't as many ripe berries on the bushes as we would have liked, but we did manage to make a nice haul, and K and I took some time to pick red raspberries (N. abstained since she has her own thicket of these in her backyard, and plugged along on the bluesies!). K is on the right modeling a very nice ripe red raspberry. YUM! N. is below right with her flat of berries -- which she so graciously shared with me! Is that not the best berry picking outfit or what?

Here is my haul, before N. loaded me up with fruits of her labor! (You can seem that I had my sights set very high, with all those empty bins.) I ate a bunch fresh, but have since frozen them, to be used in yummy non-smoothie recipes. I have so far made Berry Tofu "Ice Cream" (from The Big Book of Vegetarian) with 2 cups of the bluesies. I think I will use some more in a lemon blueberry poundcake. The raspberries? These will be made into a raspberry sauce to go over Lemon Ricotta Pancakes (and some bluesies may make a cameo in those as well!).

Saturday Evening -- "Girls' Night In" Cocktail Party! Hosted by K, at her lovely nearly refurbished historic house.

Menu (solids) : hummus and dippers; lemony veggie dip (K's own creation -- very yummy!); olive nut and crackers; Italian cheese torte and baguette; dolmas (stuffed grape leaves); pita chips and tomato salsa (like a deconstructed bruschetta); and Chocolate Guinness Cake.

Notice the Guinness Chocolate Cake -- all gussied up!

Menu (liquids): various red wines (all that I sampled were delish); martinis -- lemon, passionfruit (my personal fave); regular (am I missing anything K?).

The food was fantastic, the beverages were fantastic, and the company and conversation was even more so. I can't say whenI have spent a more enjoyable evening with a group of smart, confident, in-the-know, fun women.

Thanks K for a great weekend! I hope we can repeat it again in the fall!