From Across the Pond

http://www.minstrelmusic.co.uk

The link above will take you to a wonderful website where you will learn about a fascinating pianist/conductor, Thomas McIntosh.  Not only is Tom an outstanding pianist and conductor who travels around the world performing with outstanding symphonies, he is an outstanding chef!

The cookbook he wrote with his wife, Miranda, has a place of honor in my kitchen.  Not only for the carrot soup recipe which I make on a regular basis, or for the scones, or for...well, you see what I mean, but because like Tom and Miranda, I have cats who like special treats!  I happen to know that Tom and Miranda prepare rabbit just for their cats!  Now I haven't gone that far....yet, but I am beginning to think that I have to do something for Noisy's coat.  And the supermarket does sell frozen rabbit hereabouts.

Of course, I could shoot some of the rabbits which come round my garden, but since I don't have a gun and don't think I could even when the rabbits eat my lettuce down to a nub, I'll probably have to stick to the supermarket brand.

Squeak and Mouse have beautiful shiny coats, but Noisy has little specks of white scattered on the edges of her hair.  Not dandruff, not mites (I don't think), but something which I need to find out the cause of.  One vet suggested giving her canned food.  But that makes such smelly poop!  I"m sure freshly cooked rabbit would be most suitable.  This is Noisy sitting on the screened porch checking out the birds which are chattering in the

Good Eats in Butler, TN

Went up to 67 West restaurant in Doe Valley last night.  It was crazy busy!  Luckily Mel had her daughter and son-in-law in to help.  Mel is amazing!  She does all the cooking herself so don't plan to rush in, order, eat and get out quickly.

Mel's place, aka Monsoon according to her sign outside, is a local place with outstanding authentic Thai food made from fresh ingredients (in the summer she grows her own vegetables), cooked on a small 4 burner gas stove as you wait.  And if she has had a large call in order as last night, you might wait an hour.  But that's ok because this is a place where friends drop in and catching up is good; where if you sit at the counter you'll soon find yourself sharing some of the food.

For example, last night one of the other regulars was having Phad Thai so I told Mel just to make an extra batch and I'd have the same thing.  He had ordered 6 egg rolls plus the Phad Thai.  Now 1 of Mel's egg rolls is so good and rich that it is a meal in itself.

I started this post some weeks ago...wonder why I didn't send it?  Maybe because I wanted to include a photo of Mel, but since I'm not on my home computer I don't have photos.

Frustration

Let me count the number of printers I have had to replace in the past 16 years:

3 small printers which only printed photos - very handy when you want to take a photo of someone and hand it to them before they leave your home.  Each of these (of various manufacturers - Canon, HP and I don't remember the third one) lasted about 6 months and then just stopped working.  Sent third one back (I'd bought the service contract by this time), but it came back with the same problem.  Sent back again...no luck.  Gave us!

1 large printer/scanner/fax - you know, the kind that does everything and more than you'll probably ever need.   It worked very well for quite a long time, but then somehow the top got off kilter and you had to hold it down to make it work.  After awhile, that got old - I just want to hit control P and out comes a finished document or a beautiful photo!  So that went to the House on Watauga Lake in case some guests need to print something while on vacation.  Of course, the one time someone wanted to print something...the ink had dried up, I was out of town, but luckily a nearby friend had ink cartridges she could supply.

Now I'm on my third HP printer.  Took forever to hook up the first one - at least 3 hours or more even with help of a friend who climbed under the desk to reinstall the cord to the hard drive.  Took almost as much time with the second one, but this third one....why, it still isn't installed. Even after 2.5 hours on the phone with HP support!  In fact, she gave up and said she would have to check with her supervisor to see what we could do and she would call back.

Of course, then I got on the phone with a long very important call, but I never got a notice that HP support had called back.  I think she just wanted to get off the phone because she had spent too much time on one customer and I know the support people are only allowed so much time per customer before they are written up or something like that.

Oh yes, the very first printer was a printer fax, etc. and it is sitting on a shelf.  I think it still works, but it was only black and white so not what I want/need at this point of my life.  But if I want to print a letter or other document, I may have to see if I can get it out and working until I go back to Best Buy, return the present printer, see if I can find one that works and start over again.

Or I could come to the library where I am presently writing this. I can write and they will print at 10 cents a page.  Think it's cheaper at home, but at least here it works!  But they also don't have everything I need.

Killing time before a surprise birthday party in town and it didn't seem worthwhile to go back home 12 miles after I'd dropped a friend off to pick up her car since I was half way to town at that point.

One of the little frustrations of living out of town...it's only 10 minutes, but you don't want to spend half an hour going up and down the road so you plan your trips carefully,

Musical Events in the Mountains of NE Tennessee

Iron Mountain Inn suggests the following two musical events for a special mountain getaway.

On March 2, the International Tenors will be performing at Heritage Hall in nearby Mountain City. An incredible show coupled with a multimedia video.  The tenors perform on stage with a big screen showing scenes and footage of Italy, Spain and France.  The audience will almost believe they are sitting in a little café watching a great show in the Piazza. 

For the weekend performance of the International Tenors, special last minute rates start at only $119.00 per night and include tickets to the show. 

Tuesday March 19^th  if you prefer band music, coming up on  at the Paramount Center for the Arts in Bristol, TN/VA will be a performance by the USAF Rhythm and Blues Jazz Band.  This band incorporates a wide repertoire of jazz and fusion, from big band swing to cutting-edge contemporary music. Their vocalist radiates sounds of the great jazz divas and inspires with patriotic classics.

With mid-week discount rates starting at only $98.00 per night on a 2 night stay,(regular rates are $155.00-$195.00) full breakfast each morning and the bottomless cookie jar, this March 19^th getaway is a real special for anyone who likes jazz and blues. 

These are one night only shows so call and book a room at the Iron Mountain Inn B&B in Butler, TN. At the same time let us know how many tickets for one or both shows we can order for you.

Keep checking back as we will be listing other events both musical and theatrical taking place within the Tri-Cities region throughout the year.