The quail started hatching on Tuesday, but they weren't supposed to until today. Once a few started hatching they were all popping out like popcorn. I couldn't stop watching them. I didn't even start a painting that day. The rest of them finished hatching yesterday, so I got them all set up in their little brooder box, with a heat lamp, etc. After that, I put a chair next to them and watched them, teaching them how to drink and sprinkling food around so they'd learn how to eat it...on and off all day. There are about 25 of them, I lost count when I was transferring them out of the incubator and they're so tiny and fragile that I didn't want to start over, so I'll do it again in a day or so when I put them in a bigger box. They are so stinkin' cute! They're about the size of a big bumblebee. They run around in their box, very busy eating and drinking. They're amazingly quiet, which is a good sign, because it means that they're content. I worked outside all day today. Cutting the forsythia back from around the old chicken pen. It's time to get the girls out of the garden. Just a gorgeous day here. The painting above was finished last night, but it was after midnight, so I figured I'd post it tonight. When I put the hatched eggs on the table, the egg cup was already there and it kind of reminded me of the eggs, so I included it in the painting. "Sure Sign of Spring--Hatched Quail Eggs", 6"x6", oil on gessobord, $50. framed. SOLD- thank you Cine.

We made it out to Vetri on Saturday night for our belated Valentine's dinner.Now I could sit here for a week and glorify our experience and it would be well- deserved. But I won't. I will say that it was one of the best dinners that I have ever had and I'll never forget it. I hope. We did the chef's grand tasting menu, with the wine pairings. We'll be talking about it for a long time. I took a dozen of our blue and green Ameraucana eggs for the chef, Marc Vetri, so he came out to meet us. Such a down-to-earth guy. We also met the nicest couple, Michelle and John. It was a pleasure to share the experience with them. Boy, would I love to eat there once a week. One of my favorite things about having dinner there is that they send you home with a goodie bag. The menu that Chef Vetri hand paints that day, the wine list of the pairings, some biscotti, a Zagat guide and our desserts that we couldn't finish were all included in a nicely designed bag. An Italian touch for sure. I never went home empty handed from my Grandmother's house. Here's a link, check it out. The photography is beautifulwww.vetriristorante.com

Yesterday we went to NYC. It was a wonderful time. We tried going to the Frick Museum, but everything was blocked off due to the Greek parade, so we went to the St. Regis Hotel, to the King Cole Bar for a snack and a Bloody Mary. It's where the drink was invented. The mural of "Old King Cole" by Maxfield Parrish is there behind the bar. It's always fun to hear Bob, the bartender retell the story about it. We left there and went to Les Halles on Park Avenue. It's the restaurant where Anthony Bordain worked for so many years. We were all really pleased with our food. After that we took a walk through Soho and wound up at Lupa, where we had phenomenal food and wine. We'll be going back there for sure. Then we walked some more and went to Vintage to try some flights of NY wines and their home made ice creams for dessert. Finally, Celeste drove us home. It was a happy and memorable day. Happy Birthday Jay.

I love pansies, so today I painted one that Jay Sr. gave me for Easter. The lesser celandine, which is a very invasive bulb that grows wild everywhere, was a good match for the pansy in the mini arrangement. "Pansy in an Antique Eggcup", 5"x7", oil on gessobord, $50., framed. sold

By now you may have heard the news on channel 6 last night. Georges Perrier has given back his Mobil 5 Stars and is transforming Le Bec Fin from very formal, white glove service, (which it has been for the past 38 years) to a more casual restaurant where you can wear jeans. He was very emotional about it, which made me feel sad for him. He was 26 when he opened Le Bec Fin. That's Danny's age. Wow! The news said he had to call his 97 year old mother to tell her. The interview showed him having some regrets about being so consumed with work. At 64, he's obviously rethinking the rest of his life. He said he wants to have fun. Good for him. Good luck Chef.

Last night and all of today so far, I've had nothing but aggravation with our computers. We couldn't get online. It's amazing to me how when there is trouble with them, the hours dissolve away. Dissolve seems too nice a word. Like it's happening peacefully. If you've had this experience, you know that peaceful, it's not, when you're ready to rip all of the wires out and smash everything with a sledgehammer, so that it all dissolves that way.For some reason, the clouds in the sky just cleared, it's sunny and we can get online again. No thanks to me and all of my efforts at all. Well, thank you Jesus!

Since I couldn't post last night, Jay and I watched "No Country for Old Men". The acting is just awesome, in the literal sense of the word. That Javier is indescribable. Where did he come from? How bizarre is he? I had listened to the book last fall on my trips back and forth to Maryland. I really liked it. I didn't even know that they made a movie out of it. The book helped my understanding of the movie. So read the book first if you can.My "yesterday's" painting....hmm, I may be onto something here, anyway, it's of Glory of the Snow flowers, which I saw on my way in from getting the mail. I planted them about 25 years ago. They're one of my favorite spring bulbs. They're a little bluer in the image than in the actual painting. I love them in the antique, enamelware, egg cup. "Glory of the Snow", 5"x7", oil over egg tempera, on gessobord, $50., framed.Sold--thank you Peter.Enjoy your weekend.

Spring is now official for me. Jay and I took our walk at Chanticleer this afternoon. Even though it's still pretty chilly, there are zillions of flowers up to inspire me, so I'm going to paint flowers for awhile. I'll include eggs here and there as well. Speaking of which, the first batch of quail eggs are due to hatch on the 10th. When I candle them (hold a concentrated source of light, like a mini Maglite against them in a dark room) I can see the veins developing and the chicks bouncing around. It is so amazing. I can't remember what else I had to tell you, so I'll close for tonight. Chet Baker is singing to me with his soft, soothing voice and it's making me sleepy. It could also be that I was up until 4:30 this morning reading "Soul of a Chef" and it's to the part about Thomas Keller and The French Laundry. I can't stop reading it.

"Purple Tulips", 5"x7", oil on gessobord, $50., framed.Sold...thank you Peter.

A week ago yesterday, was my Aunt Jeannie's retirement party. She seems too young to be retired. She looked better than some half her age at the party. The whole scene was impressive, but really different for me to see her in that light and interacting with so many people that weren't related to her. We always have the "fam" experience when we're together. I think the only other time I saw her in a similar situation was when she graduated from college, with the departmental award for economics. She made a speech, kissed the bishop's ring, etc. The difference this time was that she wasn't sharing the gathering with the rest of her class, it was all about, and only for her. She's worked for the government for about 30 years. It must have been a high security job, because I never actually knew what she did, but as she said, she made a lot of money and "it wasn't for making cupcakes". She received tons of serious awards, including having the flag flown over the capital and the St. Martin's. In any case, I was so proud and honored to be there. Now that she's retired she can go to Chanticleer with me. You ready Aunt Jean?

Chanticleer opened today. I was there in my heart, but our electricity went out and I panicked since I have incubators with eggs in them. It came back on in a little while but I decided to stay home just in case. Maybe tomorrow.

My UPS guy Ron, made a delivery yesterday and we were discussing what we ate for Easter. I asked him if he had spidzod for Easter breakfast and he said no, that they have it on other occasions, but not Easter. That's when I shared with him my dilemma about how to spell it and that I couldn't find anyone who knew and how we had the same discussion on Easter. Everyone tried googling it and no one could find it. Well Ron knew...almost. He said it was spezzado. When I typed it into google it asked, "do you mean spezzato"? I thought, wow, yes I do, this really is a word, this could be it. It was! There was a recipe for it and all. You're the man Ron! Thanx.

Today's daily painting was finished last night, but it needed to be photographed in daylight. Another welcome to spring, with the flicker feather turned upside down to see more of the color. "Flicker Feather and Quail Eggs", 7"x5", oil over egg tempera on gessobord, $50., framed.Sold--thank you Penny.