Hester

Cherry pound cake Marble cheese Fresh strawberries Tea

Consulting Detective

hockey

Parasol!

heat rash

^ I love this Q. too! And I have another favourite pub to talk about -- The Queen's Head in Bulwick, Northamptonshire, England. We'd spent the morning tramping about disused local churchyards with dewy knee-high grass, looking for ancestors. Our pantlegs were drenched and our shoes were muddy. We walked into the local pub just before noon and asked for a table for 2 for lunch. The place was empty and you could have shot a cannon off inside and not hit anyone, but the barkeep asked if we had a RESERVATION! We said no, and he poured over a reservation book, frowning, and then said, okay, I guess we can squeeze you in. We thought he was kidding, but in about 10 minutes everyone from the surrounding towns seemed to flood through the door. It was Sunday, and the pub served a fabulous "Sunday Dinner" at midday. Roast beef, Yorkshire pudding, and all the trimmings. And it's a very picturesque pub, dating from the 17th century: http://www.restaurant-guide.com/queens-head-3.htm < Not very productive today. V Pass the Q, of course!

Hot & Ready [i'm referring to the $5 pizza special!]

Profligate! [That's actually a self-assessment. It wasn't meant as an accusatory reply to Capt. Sterling's post above. ]

Modest Mouse http://www.modestmousemusic.com/

Cool, Jill! My baby bird adventures are far less cute. I live in a tall old Victorian house. The starlings love to nest in my eaves. Unfortunately, they're rather careless parents, and the flightless babies often fall out of the nest, 3 storeys down, to land, dead, on my front porch. Ick! And last year, they nested at the top of our downspout. We had a heavy rain and the nest got washed down into the drainpipe. I could hear all sorts of scratching and rattling, but I thought it was coming from the eavestrough above. Finally, we realized there were birds trapped inside the drainpipe. My husband took it apart, and found 2 dead, decaying and very stinky baby starlings inside, and one live one.

2 double-chocolate cookies, warmed in the microwave. [30% of my RDA of iron!] Fresh strawberries. [Cookies for breakfast?! Well hey, I was out of eggs. ]

Sorry to hear you're having such difficulties dealing with your family Lady B. But I noticed in another thread that you're feeling more "mellow" this morning. So, keep your mind on that handsome Hessian officer and try to let the rest run off your back. As for my whine today... well, it's pretty trivial: eBay only lets me put 100 items at a time in my "Watch" list. How inconveniet! I'm far more covetous than that!

Mask aside, I didn't even recognize Gerard Butler in that role. I'd first seen him in Timeline (rather a mish-mash of a movie) and thought "Wow!" -- but it never occurred to me that it was the same actor in The Phantom. Actually, I found the Phantom movie visually quite stunning, despite the weak storytelling. I'm not much of a musical theatre fan though (never saw the stage version), and Andrew Lloyd Weber really isn't my musical cuppa.

probate

Chilly & damp!

... to the highest bidder!

sale

True, MadL! We stayed the night! ^ Okay, how about my favourite LOCAL pub -- Whelan's Gate. Irish pub with a very cozy snug that comfortably fits my entire 'Robin Hood Appreciation Society', complete with faux fireplace. "Celtic Jam" singalong every Tuesday night. And the best chips for miles around. Blackthorn cider on tap. http://www.whelansgate.com/index.html < Time to arrange a pub night! V Pass this terrific Q!

Rhapsody in Blue:

^ How can I choose just ONE favourite pub? How about ONE OF my favourite pubs? The Scotsman's Pack in Hathersage, Derbyshire. 18th century trading inn with a Tudoresque timber & whitewash exterior, dark wood-panelled interior. Jane Austen & Little John memorabilia (both have local connections). Excellent food -- I had the venison with juniper berries. Patio out back with a little stream running by. http://www.scotsmanspack.com/ < I want to take go on another tour of Britain now! V Pass the Q!

No, Capt. Sterling ... it sounds much worse than that! Lady B: Cookie therapy -- excellent. Current feeling: Tired (well, okay, really just "lazy")

Hi, Lady B & Capt. Sterling: Yes, just pollen allergies. (All the beautiful old oak trees in my neighbourhood are in bloom right now.) I took some antihistamines and am now breathing freely, thanks. Lady B: Too depressed to drink? Try chocolate! (Eating chocolate will increase your endorphin levels and improve your mood. Plus the dark stuff is good for your heart!) Capt. Sterling: Oooo ... migraine. Ouch! Hope it goes away soon! Current feeling: Distracted (by all the pretty-shinies on eBay)

Congested

Dude, Where's My Jollyboat?

yachty knots