Rain Bach Daffodils

Got caught in a shower on our last ride up the hill.  Not surprising considering how rainy March has been, and this past week in particular.  Luckily we were at the top when the downpour hit, and we sheltered in the lee of the transmission building until the rain had passed by. 
Daffodils and flowering quince are still blooming, freesias are almost ready to start blooming.
Went to Mondavi Center to see Bach B Minor Mass performed by the SF Symphony and Chorus last week for T's birthday.  It was quite fun. 
Also saw the high school musical last night.  They did a great job.
Still haven't gotten my seeds from Parks.  They must have sent them by slow boat! On the other hand it has been so rainy it would be difficult to start them.  Next week is expected to be dry, so maybe can get some things going in the garden again.

Mother Poppell's Poppyseed Cake

Yesterday was Ted's birthday.  He always requests poppyseed cake.  The recipe comes from his mother, but I don't know where she got it from.  We have tinkered with the recipe over the years to lower the fat and calories.  Here is our current version.

Combine 1/3 C poppyseeds (282 calories) and 1 and 1/2 C sour milk or buttermilk (150 calories) or plain nonfat yougurt (180 calories) and let sit.
In a mixing bowl blend till creamy 1/3 C canola oil (744 calories) and 1 C sugar (774 calories)
Add to this four eggs (320 calories) and 1 t vanilla.  If you like add 1/3 C applesauce (70 calories) or other fruit puree (I usually use our homemade apricot puree).
In a separate bowl combine 2 and 1/2 C all purpose flour (1100 calories) and 1/2 C whole wheat flour (200 calories) with 1T baking powder.
In small bowl mix 2T sugar (96 calories) and 1 t cinnamon.
Now, add the flour mixture and the poppyseed mixture alternately into the egg mixture.
When mixed, pour half the batter into an oiled bunt or angel food cake pan.  Sprinkle the cinnamon and sugar mixture over the batter.  Add the rest of the batter.  Bake at 350 forever, about 1 hour and twenty minutes. Total calories are 3766 in the cake and that doesn't include the frosting!  (Which didn't turn out very well.) I don't even want to think about it!  We ate about a quarter of the cake last night.  Which means I ate 470 calories plus the chocolate frosting calories.  On top of dinner and champagne!  No wonder I had trouble sleeping!

We had a nice bike ride yesterday before all the calories. It was cloudy and mild.  We sometimes see people biking up the hill multiple times, and we have been discussing for some time whether we could bike up the hill twice.  So yesterday after we got down and were started on our way home we decided to go back up the hill.  It was a perfect time to try it, no wind and pleasantly cool, and we found it was quite easy actually.  In some ways easier than the first time up, maybe because we weren't pushing for speed.
In other news, I have tried dividing some of my sages, I'm hoping this is still a good time so that they can get established before it gets too warm and dry. Also mowed the strawberries. Have started weeding around the garlic and the rest of the garden.
Ordered my seeds but they haven't come yet.

Yard work and a junior recital

Since we have finished off some big projects I have had time to get out in the yard.  I grubbed all the ivy out of the front border over the past few weekends, and I hoed out all the grass.  I have cut off all the dried flower heads from the Jerusalem sage and the California buckwheat.  I am trying to decide if I should propagate some of the sage and buckwheat along the border.The flowering quince is still blooming and I occasionally see a passerby break off a branch or two to carry home.  I always hope they don't get pricked, as the quince  have very sharp thorns.
Wednesday night we went to the junior vocal recital of F's friend Doug.  I had never been to one of these before and I was so impressed! The level of singing was very professional. The vocalist was accompanied by Dr. John Cozza on piano, who is totally terrific.  The vocalist also performed a number accompanied by a very competent student guitarist.  The program was about 45 minutes long, which in some ways was just right.  Afterward we were invited to share in a reception for the performers, which featured beautifully decorated and arranged treats on a very attractively appointed table.  I'm looking forward to going to F's junior recital soon.  I think these would make a pleasant Friday night date, when you want to do something, but you don't want to be too ambitious.  All we would have to pay for is the gas.  Afterwards you could go get dinner if you wanted.