Since last Friday, visions of baklava and spinach pie have danced in my head.  I've been dreaming of leeks and hot tea and warm bread with sesame seeds...so much that I wake up practically full, so much that I can't wait to go back to sleep, so much that I hope I get to celebrate Eid again next year!  Thanks Derya for inviting us to celebrate Ramadan and for providing one of the most amazing meals I've ever had.  You would not believe what this girl threw together on Friday morning.  While sitting around her dining room table; surrouded by the AIRs, Betsy, and Stephen; I kept looking at her kitchen and thinking "my kitchen looks a lot like her kitchen but there's no way my kitchen could do something like this."  If it could, my kitchen would retire.  It would hang up its gloves and live happily ever after.  It would proudly display a trophy of some sorts...possibly a triangle of baklava caste in gold rested triumphantly on its countertops.  Thank you Derya.  And thank you for the thoughtful gifts.  It was a wonderful and festive day...     

In other news...me, Stephen, Nicholas, Rachel and Brandy took a little field trip up to Spindale, NC last Thursday to help out with WNCW's fall fund drive.  I've always wanted to visit Studio B and we had a blast.  Arielle and Rachel are planning a really sweet project.  They'll be moving into some storefront windows on Main Street for a few days next week where they'll be writing, painting, sleeping, eating, exercising, etc.  Do you want to read that again to make sure you got it?  Come out and see them.  They'll be welcoming food donations, words of encouragement, and any kind of (tasteful) entertainment you can provide.  Check out the November HUB-BUB calendar for upcoming classes and other interesting things.  See ya here next week; I'm off to take a nap.

Alix