Just a quick plug for a great new paranormal romance series I finished reading. The Riley Jenson Guardian Novels by Keri Arthur are fabulous. I flew through every book in the series in about a week and a half. The books are quick paced and lusty, and I cannot wait for the next book to come out in July 2007! If this is your genre, give this series a go!
Does your child have nightmares? Well, I just recently stumbled upon the cutest cure! It’s called a Nightmare Snatcher. Available at The Spiderbite Boutique, these furry and friendless Nightmare Journals “are the perfect journals for writing down and drawing out all that scares, frightens, and worries. You have only to recite the spell found at the front of the book, record your woes on their aged tea-stained pages, then mark your page with their long tail and your faithful friend the Nightmare Snatcher will eat your fears away.” I fell in love with these as soon as I saw them, and was sure my ten-year old son would as well. And, he did. In fact, he picked one out (pictured) for me to purchase for him right away. So, if you or someone you know has nightmares, then visit the The Spiderbite Boutique right away and pick out your favorite monster. They come in all colors and expressions and are completely handmade for just $20 each. (My favorite is Crubbly.)
I’d been wanting to try the lobster bisque at Trio Bistro·Bar·Bottle for a while now as it had been a really long time since I’d had a go at a lobster bisque. So Saturday, dearest hubby and I decided to enjoy an evening of good food and good wine at Trio so I could give the bisque a go. And let me just say, it was so very much worth it. The lobster bisque was, as I like to refer to supremely good food, “drool-worthy.” I absolutely could not give it any higher praise. And Adam’s prime rib, “drool-worthy” as well, and worth every penny. Adam also much enjoyed a glass of 2002 Red Zinfandel Ballentine while I stuck with my easy to drink 2005 Crane Lake White Zinfandel. I’m a sweet kind of girl. 
So, if you’re looking for supremely good food and great service, I very highly recommend Trio as your next dining experience.
I’m hoping there will be no more frost this spring, and my hopes are high that there won’t be. A somewhat sluggish honey bee took some time to rest on my White Zinfandel Soap today. Though where it was expecting to grab a taste I’m not sure. My soaps aren’t too tasty to begin with, regardless of how tasty they may smell.
If you’re looking for a good lunch on Saturday (April 28th), Gary Crowder of Wertz’s restaurant - located at 215 Market St. - will be selling Italian Sausages along with fresh squeezed lemonade and limeade at the Farmer’s tables across from his restaurant. His food is always good, so if you like Italian Sausage, you may not want to pass this opportunity up. He’s been cooking up lots of new ideas for his restaurant lately - and those ideas are not just limited to his new menu that’s now available. He also has a new cook on board who’s been busy in the kitchen coming up with fresh donut recipes that you may just soon find available on the Farmer’s Market as well as a fabulous bread pudding dessert - which I hear has gotten rave reviews from those who’ve given it a go. Of course, if you’re looking for a meal, my husband drooled over Wertz’s Surfin’ Nebraska when we ate dinner there last weekend. And, should you ever get something from Wertz’s you’re not fond of, Gary assures me it’s a fluke and that they’re always happy to replace it with anything else you’d like to have. So, good food and good service mingled with a few fresh ideas. How can you resist?
For those of you who like to follow on the heels of gossip, it’s come to my attention that city council was presented with a new matter to vote on that directly affects the market area. Apparently, in an effort to finagle some extra cash to finish the yet unfinished Market Parking Garage at the corner of Church St. and Market St., someone proposed the city charge a $2 parking fee at both the Market Garage and the Center in the Square Garage on weekends and evenings after 5pm. Currently parking is free during these times, and I’d like to see it remain that way lest the downtown businesses suffer losses from those rightly not having a desire to pay for after hours and weekend parking. I hear this proposal has already received numerous complaints. However, should you wish to throw your vote into the mix, you’ll find the emails and phone numbers for every member on city council at the RoanokeVA.gov website. Personally, I think they could come up with the funds if they’d just stop requesting six figure studies that that tell them what they already knew to begin with, but I’ve tried not to sway too far into politics here because it just gets messy.
In other news, Karl J. Phillips, who publishes City Magazine, was seen driving his jaguar with an orange traffic cone on his hood today. Apparently some mischievous business owners conspired to place the cone on Karl’s car in an effort to curb his habit of moving from parking space to parking space throughout the day, and it didn’t gain his notice even as drove off with this cone protruding like a unicorn’s horn from his car’s hood. I, of course, do not mean any disrespect by this tidbit of information - I just thought it was amusing. And hopefully, Karl - who in his bio claims to be an artist at heart - will understand the creativity of his fellow man. You can find City Magazine all over downtown Roanoke for the price of nothing. Grab a copy for the ins and outs on regional art, entertainment, and events.
Also, if you’re a fan of cheese, my ten year old son of all people introduced me to a new shop via a special request for mozzarella cheese and Fizzy Lizzies yesterday afternoon. While not located on the Farmer’s Market, the shop Say Cheese is located at 102 Salem Ave. just behind the City Market Building - which houses the International Food Court - and beside Billy’s Ritz. Fizzy Lizzy is an all-natural sparkling juice that contains no added sugar, corn syrup, or preservatives. And apparently it’s good. I mean, my ten year old asked for it by name and what a fun name it is. Say Cheese offers Fizzy Lizzy for $1.59 a bottle or 4 for $5. So give them a try. I also grabbed 4 oz. of fresh mozzarella, and while I was in a rush to get home today after a long day on the market, I did notice that in addition to Fizzy Lizzy and lots of cheese, they also carry wine, gourmet chocolates and a handful of handmade soaps. They’ll be seeing me again when I’m not so tired.
The awnings on the first block of Market St. are mostly complete, but completely functional. We’re just waiting on a few pieces that haven’t come in yet. Come down and see how pretty the new look is!
In the meantime, the second block has been stripped of its awnings, and while those are being sent off to use as patterns for the new awnings, the painters are currently hard at work getting the second block structure sanded and painted.
There hasn’t been a lot of news to speak of this week on the Farmer’s Market, so I’ll make a shopping suggestion for the market instead. If you’ve been looking for a great wine, then try Crane Lake’s 2005 White Zinfandel. It’s a sweet wine and very easy to drink. I enjoyed my glass with a Creme Brulée after dinner last Saturday. You can find it for sale at Trio Bistro·Bar·Bottle for under $20. Also, I was in La De Da the other day, and they have some really adorable summer dresses for sale right now.
Also, don’t forget, there will be a band playing again this Saturday on the Market, and the weather’s perfect for it! Acoustinova, who plays acoustic, jazzy bluegrass, will be in the parking lot from 11am to 2pm for your listening pleasure. And, for those who like to plan ahead, the 27th annual Strawberry Festival will be in Elmwood Park on May 4th and 5th.
Spring has brought out planters en masse from local farmers, each vying for your attention to make your home or garden more attractive; but it is an artist who has given planters this year’s unique spin. Cheryl Dolby, of Cheryl Dolby Originals, introduced 
her new Earth Goddess Planters this past Saturday on the Roanoke Farmer’s Market. Given names befitting a goddess, such as Isadora (shown above) - who was the gift of Isis - these beautiful hand-built, clay-fired planters are more than just a fancy name. Adorned with jewelry and gems purchased during Cheryl’s travels from around the world, these planters speak from the heart of Cheryl’s art. All of the planters, each an original and work of art in their own right, boast herbs such as thyme from local farmers that spill over the sides of these beauties as well as Cheryl’s trademark Native American faces. And it is because of this originality and allure, that Cheryl’s planters received a warm welcome from market consumers. Sure to sell out quickly if Saturday was any indication, you may want to grab one for your patio before the chance to own one is gone.
Tim Belcher, of Rolling Meadows Farms, has new plants in stock. He now has a large selection of Heirloom Tomato plants - “old time” tomatoes that you won’t find in a mass market grocer. These tomatoes originated in the 1800’s and have a “real” tomato taste. They are a softer tomato with tons of flavor. Some of the varieties Tim has include Black Prince, Black Krim, Cherokee Chocolate, and San Marzano. Additionally, you will also find a wide selection of Bell Pepper plants including chocolate, purple, red, blush, yellow, and Juliet.
Jan, of Walter’s Greenhouse, has - and will continue to have - an increasing variety of annuals for sale as the weather warms up. If it’s in bloom, Jan has it - from hanging baskets to planters and pots. Be sure to check out her hydrangeas for sale as well.
Mark, of Woods Farms, tells me that his hot weather plants are slowly being brought out as well including a wide selection of petunias and marigolds.
And, don’t forget, this Saturday brings several activities to the market. Scott Perry with Tom Ohmsen will be on site from 11am to 2pm playing acoustic American music; Valley Beautiful will be giving away 500 free short needle pine trees; and Linens and Ladles is offering free knife sharpening from 11am to 1pm. A Wusthof-Trident sales rep will be available during that time to sharpen up to three knives per person.
In support of our friends in Blacksburg, Hope - our Market Manager - will be decorating the Farmer’s Market with huge, orange and maroon bows on Friday, April 20th. Also, both for Arbor Day and as a type of memorial for Virginia Tech, Valley Beautiful will be on the market Saturday, April 21st giving away 500 free Short Needle Pines. Valley Beautiful supplies all of the hanging baskets for Roanoke, Salem, and Vinton as well as various planting projects in the community.
For those of you looking for a green clean, I recently ran across a natural cleaner that I’m really in love with in the kitchen. Bi-O-Kleen’s Soy Cream Cleaner for Kitchen & Bathroom
is one of the better products I’ve tried. I use it on my tiled kitchen counter tops as well as my glass stove top with great results. Plus, it smells fabulous. And even better, it’s very affordable. A huge 32oz. bottle runs $5.59 retail. Bi-O-Kleen is non-toxic, non-polluting, and ozone safe, yet it works similar to how Soft Scrub would, without scratching delicate surfaces and leaving a thorough clean that shines and protects as well. It can also be used to clean and deodorize disposals, as a hand cleaner for cutting tough grease, on tires, BBQs, painted surfaces, and pretty much anything else you can think of. And for those who own stainless steel appliances, I recommend Mrs. Meyer’s Stainless Steel Scrub.
It cleans easily, makes my appliances look great, and I like the lavender scent as well.
I’ve been working on a few new soaps lately. One of which is my new Lettuce Gardener’s Soap (right) - a fragrant blend of Sweet Floral, water, and ozone. It contains poppy seeds, fine ground pumice and apricot kernel meal to help remove grit and garden dirt from your hands. And, it’s thick, creamy lather helps remove soil as well, while the addition of shea and cocoa butters keep hands soft and hydrated.
I’ve also introduced a fresh, new summer scent - Mango & Papaya. This soap, formulated for those suffering from dry skin, is a fruity scent combination of fresh, ripe mangos and papayas. It’s made with a blend of Shea and Cocoa Butters, as well as skin loving oils such as Olive and Rice Bran, both known for their moisturizing properties. This soap gets you clean, but also leaves behind a bit of excess oil to smooth and rehydrate your skin. It’s a great soap for anyone suffering from dry or troubled skin.
Both soaps are available for a limited time on the Roanoke Farmer’s Market - see my website for dates I’ll be on the market - and in my online shop. Also, be sure to keep an eye out for my new Sage & Cinnamon scented soap for extra dry skin. It’s undergoing the curing process now, and is a great scent for men and women alike.
