Weekend Update, Part 82

On Friday, after I finished my appointment at the orthopedic surgeon’s office, with a verdict of a stress fracture in my knee, I headed to one of my favourite thrift shops, on a hot tip that they’d just received a donation of McCoy pottery from an estate. I am not a huge fan of McCoy pottery, but I heard that amongst this donation was a huge collection of frogs. Actually, I had no idea McCoy made things like this frog. I thought they just made things like this:Regardless, the Carry On Shop, which benefits the world-famous Johns Hopkins Hospital has a huge collection of McCoy for all of you collectors!

Another amazing piece that someone donated to the shop is a mid-century modern dining room table and chairs by Paul McCobb, the well-known designer in the 1950’s and 1960’s. His pieces are going for thousands on 1st Dibs, but this is selling for just $2000! The table is round, but it also has two leaves to extend it to seat eight! The stretchers on the table legs are a signature style of McCobb’s. All of you fans of Mad Men should hop on down to the Carry On Shop and carry this table away. You’re not likely to find a deal like this any time soon.

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On Saturday, I continued a long-time tradition of my family’s – having a stranger come to dinner! Well, not exactly a complete stranger, his mother is a blogger that I met up with in London last month, and she’d e-mailed me that he was working on filming for a documentary in Baltimore for several weeks. So, I invited him to dinner, along with the Chefs, and three rambunctious dogs. In all of the years that I have had friends of friends, or complete strangers referred to me by friends, come for a meal or to stay the night, I have only had one disaster. And my life has certainly been richer for knowing so many of these strangers, who are now friends.

Just to make you totally jealous, I will share the menu!

Parmesan Crisps
Belgian Endive with Walnut Salad
Pork Tenderloin with an Apple Cranberry Chutney
Roasted Fingerling Potatoes
Roasted Asparagus
Chocolate Chip Cookie and Salted Caramel Ice Cream Sandwiches

Special thanks to Chef Dawg for helping out at the last minute when my knee was killing me and I had to start guzzling the wine!

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With this crazy spring we’re having in the Mid-Atlantic, I was shocked to see this:It’s unheard of to have peonies blooming at the same time as the daffodils, the forsythia and the tulips! I even saw some lilac buds trying to force their way open to day. If it’s this warm this early in the spring, I dread to see what our summer will be like!