Happy Spring!
Though the calendar says March 20th is officially the first day of Spring, this season of fresh starts and renewal seems to have rushed in ahead of schedule.
In downtown D.C., the cherry blossoms have already popped. Our daffodils came up a month ago, last week we had temps in the 80’s, and the robins are already packing for their summer vacations. Winter was strange; our lawn stayed green the entire time, and not once did we have to clear our driveway of snow. We live in such a fast-paced world — now, even nature seems to be in a hurry. ☺
A few things in celebration of Spring:
2012 Alphabet Soup Poetry Potluck
Here in the Alphabet Soup kitchen, we’ve been busy busy busy getting ready for the 3rd annual Poetry Potluck in April. Yes, once again, we’ll be welcoming an exceptionally talented, good-looking group of guest poets to share their poems and recipes each week day throughout National Poetry Month!
The intriguingly delicious Menu will feature both children’s and adult poets. I know you will enjoy meeting a few new poets in addition to checking out what your long-time favorites have cooked up for the celebration. There will be door prizes every week as well as the customary Potluck Giveaway. There will be drinks, salads, main dishes and desserts! And since we’re talking about poets, there may well be dancing on the table as well as the vigorous flinging of scarves and/or berets in reckless abandon. All in iambic pentameter, of course. I’ll post the full menu with more details on Friday, March 30th, so get your bibs ready!
Downtown Abbey Withdrawal Remedy
Don’t know how I’m going to make it through the months ahead without any new episodes of Downton Abbey. I may have to purchase the Season 1 and 2 DVDs soon. In the meantime, this piece from PAPERMAG makes me happy — pics featuring cast members as their characters and in real life. O’Brien, Mrs. Hughes and Ethel = va va voom! As for Brendan Coyle (Mr. Bates), hello!
Ultimate DoDo Bird Cake
Remember when we celebrated the release of Tammi Sauer’s Me Want Pet! and featured Michelle Wibowo’s amazing Dodo Bird Cake? Here’s how she did it:
Amazing, no?
Edible Book Festival Entries Gallery
Zoe at Playing by the Book has posted all the entries for the first International Edible Book Festival! Lots of fun, frosting, and creativity, with Beatrix Potter, Roald Dahl and Tolkien among the featured authors. Some books are new to me and I can’t wait to check them out. The Gallery will be open all this week and the winner will be announced on March 26th. It’ll be hard to pick just one winner from so many cool entries. I kind of like this one:
Pick Your Nose
Here’s your chance to pick your nose in public and still be socially correct. Yes, it doesn’t take much to make me laugh. Wouldn’t thumb my nose at these fun Fred and Friends Pick Your Nose party cups at all. ☺
Dream Interview !!!
Guess who’s coming to Alphabet Soup on Thursday? She’ll also be stopping by to visit Jules at 7-Imp. Never in a million trillion years did I ever imagine this would actually happen — Jules and I are simply beside ourselves! Can’t guess? Here’s another clue:
Tell me, what are you most looking forward to this Spring?
For your viewing pleasure:
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Copyright © 2012 Jama Rattigan of Jama’s Alphabet Soup. All rights reserved.
Jama's Alphabet Soup 
Oh the edible book festival is proving so much fun. An almost impossible task to choose a winner, but worth all the agonising! I love the nose cups. Spring feels like it has sprung here – lots of buds on trees and sunshine today on my skin 🙂
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You received so many wonderful entries! Can’t wait to see the winner. 🙂
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I can watch Downton Season 1 free on Amazon Prime, but haven’t yet. I spend so much time at the computer, I can’t make myself sit there for a TV show. But I understand the withdrawal! And the raves on that show are probably worth sitting another hour at the PC.
Mad Men!!! Coming this Sunday!!! And guess who doesn’t have a TV??? Maybe you’ll consider putting Jon Hamm in Eye Candy?
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Your wish is my command. Hover over Jon’s pic; he has a message for you. 🙂
Sounds like you need to get a Netflix account if you don’t have one already. I rented both seasons. Don’t like watching movies or TV shows on the computer.
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Hubba Hubba on Mr. Bates and Colin! Mmmm! And I’m really looking forward to your Poetry Potluck this year, as I have discovered a newfound interest in poetry! YAY you!
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Yay for your new interest in poetry!
Didn’t realize Brendan Coyle was so “hubba hubba” till I saw those pictures. Can you believe we have to wait until 2013 for Season 3? Ack!
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2013? ACKKKKK!
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Ack ack ack ack ack! It’s torture, that’s what it is . . .
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We are having a crazy early spring here, too, and I’m loving it.
I’m also looking forward to the poetry and recipes next month!
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It’s crazy Spring all over! It will be very interesting to see what summer’s like if it’s so warm now.
Lots of great poems and recipes to share. Bring your biggest spoon :).
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Oh yes, Mr. Bates. Let’s hope he gets a moment or two of happiness in the next Season! (And it’s way to friggin hot here too. Creepy.)
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Sigh, Mr. Bates. He may be my new favorite character. I do like Daisy and Sybil, though.
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I like them all, really. Such a fun show even when it occasionally goes off track!
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Stumped on the dream interview, but I’ll be back to find out who it is!
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Very excited about this interview. One of my idols! 🙂
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I liked the whole “pick your nose” idea and really looking forward for that interview.
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Glad to meet someone else who appreciates proper nose picking :D. Hope you enjoy the interview tomorrow!
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So much fun here! Can’t wait for this year’s pot luck!
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Thank you for all the deliciousness, which does help with Downton Abbey withdrawal. Though I kind of wish I hadn’t read your comment to Debbi about 2013. Maybe I’ll forget. I am talented at that. Looking forward to poetry month with you!
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