My sister is a working musician who has a number of friends in that world. Often, her people will tour through Philly and on occasion, she wrangles a ticket for me. Tonight, she got me on the list for a show done by Steve Poltz. It was so fun and such a delightful break from my regular life.

I turned the book in last night and suddenly, the weight of the world was off my shoulders. I took today to sleep in, get my new driver’s license and visit a couple of thrift stores. It was lovely.

I am just a few words away from being down with my book draft. More tomorrow.

I went to the Headhouse Farmers’ Market this morning, with rhubarb, asparagus and strawberries on the brain and happily, I found all three. I bought the stalks and stems you see above from Culton Organics. It’s a farm out in Lancaster County and in recent years, the farmer/owner Tom Culton has developed something of a devoted following for his gorgeous produce and quirky, heirloom choices.

My issue is that I paid $27 for 2 1/2 pounds of rhubarb and 1 3/4 pounds of asparagus. When the women helping me told me how much I owed, I really and truly thought I had heard her wrong. Part of the issue is that Culton Organics writes their prices on pieces of slate that are then artfully tucked amidst the produce. So they’re hard to read until you’re right up on them, which doesn’t help with planning. What’s more, though I didn’t realize it until after I had my check-out heart attack, they priced things in quarter and half pound increments this week.

The problem is that I’m accustomed to seeing things priced in pounds (as most of us are). So when I saw that the sign under the rhubarb said $3.50 I assumed that was the price per pound. Only that was the price per half pound. Thus the huge bill.

This is the end for me and Culton Organics. I can find both rhubarb and asparagus elsewhere for far less.

My dear friend Val spent the last seven months traveling around the world. She recently returned to the states and is back in Philly, though who knows for how long.

Val came over for breakfast this morning and brought me flowers. I made blueberry oat scones. We smeared them with butter and jam and caught each other up on the last 200 or so days of life.

I spent most of today sitting at a table our building’s side patio. It’s a hardly used space and isn’t in range of any free wireless internet networks, making it absolutely perfect for hours of interrupted cookbook work. This bench was my view when I looked up from the computer screen.

Playing around, taking pictures of my wedding band(s). Back when Scott and I were getting married, I had some issues figuring out what I wanted in terms of engagement rings and wedding bands. He was a champ, even though my insecurities and confusion led to me saying yes when I should have said no.

I ended up wasting a hefty sum of money thanks to a custom made piece that I ended up hating. I so wish I could go back in time and give myself a pep talk. I would have reminded myself that I deserved to have what I wanted and that I didn’t need to say yes because I thought it would make things easier and I didn’t want to rock the boat.

Thankfully, I just love the rings I finally ended up with that you see up there. I just wish I hadn’t had to burn some (of Scott’s) money in order to figure it all out.

Breakfast in a jar.

The back of the car, all filled with jars. I posted more about this over on Food in Jars.

Flowers from yesterday’s Headhouse Square Farmers’ Market.