We are having a fabulous week and Wednesday's meeting was definitely a major highlight. I love meeting CF friends and there has never been a meeting when we didn't all feel that we've known each other forever IRL and my good friend Mimi, who has heard much about the CF for years from me, also felt that she had known Helene and Eileen forever. Years ago Eileen helped me with buying Easter basket gifts for our new step grandson who is just a few months younger than her son, that was a lifesaver. Eileen, Max loved your bottle design - clean, elegant and sophisticated! We're taking the wine home and I know we'll love it too. And I thank you for the wonderful cards with your photographs and the orange marmalade. Helene became a wonderful in person friend within the first few minutes we all were together and I can only hope we can meet again. I'm missing the two to three biz trips I had to SF every year (and missing the LA ones too) so I guess we'll just have to vacation more. Rachelellen the food at Skate was indeed fabulous, so please do pass that message on. And our lunch was actually Max's treat, sweet man that he is! I've also had lunch at the Metropolitan Club (picture of desert to follow later) that was wonderful. It followed a slide show talk on Art Deco architecture in Shanghai given by a woman who is now 80 (in her case 80 must be the new 50). She has lived there long enough that she has great photos of the Deco buildings when they were newly constructed followed by more recent photos which, sadly but necessarily, are filled with webs of electric wires everywhere and room air conditioning units dotting the walls in a random, haphazard way. She was a knowledgeable and entertaining speaker. When asked if she would be back in San Francisco soon to speak again her cryptic answer was that she was 80 and no longer buying unripe bananas, but she hoped to come back next year! She has written a number of books and I'm sure I will order the Art Deco one, unfortunately only able to be ordered from her in Shanghai and shipped. Last night we saw the Birth of Impressionism exhibit at the de Young Museum. The hundred or so paintings are on loan from the d'Orsay in Paris, available to travel only because that museum is undergoing major renovations. It was our favorite museum in Paris and it was fun to see the same paintings in a different environment. Our high level of activity caught up with me yesterday and I was really wiped out but overall I'm doing pretty well and really appreciate your comment Ellen; it has been a long struggle and I don't feel like myself yet (well, my brain seems as normal as it ever was, but my body still rebels). On Tuesday, Mimi and I took Oliver and met another old friend for a two hour lunch in Burlingame. We ate outside at an Afghan restaurant, again great food, and Ollie watched the world go by from under the table the entire time. He is a good dog! Tuesday night we cooked pasta at Mimi's using the Wild Porcini Sauce that Sciabica's delivered to Mimi's store for me. That is the first sauce I have ever had that I could just open the can, heat it and use it. I might add some red wine and fresh basil when I use it at home but it was great as it was. We also had paper thin ribbons of zucchini, simply dressed with one of the Sciabica olive oils, a little lime juice and S&P. We brought the baby zukes from Max's garden and this has been one of our favorite ways to eat it. After about an hour of marinating in the small amount of dressing the zucchini, which is uncooked, becomes softened and mellow, I just shaved some parm on it before serving. Mimi made a tossed salad and it was a great healthy meal until we got to dessert from Bombay Ice Cream. I cannot come to San Francisco without at least one stop there and this time we bought saffron-pistachio ice cream and lychee ice cream. The condo we are staying in is fine, and accross the street from a great park to take Ollie for morning and night walks and Mimi lives just on the far side of the park so it has been a very convenient location in the Marina. Ollie has spent every other day with me and the in between ones at Fog City Dogs daycare. He's having a great vacation too. Today we are again taking Ollie out to lunch and then to dinner at a close friends house with two young children who will adore him. I would never just presume I could have him with us, but he has been really good when goes with us and had a great time in daycare when he was there. The only downside to the condo is that the public wifi connection that they advertised no longer exists, or is down this week, or who knows, but that is why I have been unable to post. Oh to have the quick and accurate touch that teens have on iphones - it's a struggle for me to text a two liner from it. My BlackBerry keyboard was easier to use. Guess it just takes more practice. I'm at Mimi's connected to her wifi to post today. Max is loving his watercolor workshop and they have painted all over the city. He says he's learning some new techniques and using brushes that are new for him. The week has been a mix of success and frustration - but he's having a great time. We're ready to leave for lunch so that's all for now. Thank you all for your help and well-wishes. This is beginning to feel like I've written a tome, but I wanted to share with all of you who were virtually, and on the phone and net, with me and Max when I was so very ill that I'm so much better now and really able to enjoy this trip. Lee

Thanks so much for the feedback everyone!!! I don't have time right now to address everyone's posts individually (I have to get my butt off this couch and into the shower because we're heading to a party soon), but I will try to answer some questions quickly: The paint color on the walls is BM Clinton Brown. I got it mixed in Aura and it went on beautifully. Never ending- Yes, the walls are textured! We had some imperfections in the old plaster that would have caused just regular paint to look horrible. So, I bought some "linen" textured wallpaper and put it up first and then painted over it. I also used a semi-gloss paint to purposely highlight the texture a little bit. I love it, as it adds a certain amount of warmth to the room. As for the light over the sink, that was there when we moved in, but I saw the exact same fixture at HD. Pretty sure it's under $10 :) It's just a globe, but I will try to get a pic for you later. I know I should move the coffee maker. I used to have it by the micro in the beginning, but that's because before the reno, that was the only outlet I had to use. The one by the fridge had the fridge plugged into it!! I guess I just moved it because I didn't like having so many things plugged into that one outlet... the micro, the toaster and the coffee maker. However, it does make logical sense and it is kind of a pain to make coffee in the corner I have it in now. The towels I found at B,B&B and the potholders I found at Target :) And I found some Robins egg blue fiestaware containers that I am dying to get into my kitchen. I can't justify them now... but they are already on my christmas list, haha. :)

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Yes, but dollhouse miniatures aren't necessarily usable for real food, and the whole point for the art is that he made everything. Thanks, Jakkom! I love it! The fact that the act of cooking and serving the food to the audience is the essential part of what he does, is quite meaningful. It combines all the elements of hospitality with the beautiful handmade kitchen, and the connection to the people where they happen to be walking rather than in an art space or food space. Really quite lovely!