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In Asheville, amid the mountains of western North Carolina

(Photo of an eyas and its parent by Darrell Hardister)

Did you know?

On March 5, 2019 the Crowfields Board of Directors approved

installing smoke detectors in all bedrooms of every unit at

Crowfields, at no charge to you. This decision came in

response to recommendations from our insurance carrier,

Travelers Insurance, and is consistent with standard

requirements of The National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA)

that all sleeping quarters have smoke detection devices.

Additionally, it is a building code requirement for all new

construction.

Your personal safety is of the upmost importance for all of us at

Crowfields. With this in mind, Crowfields Maintenance

Department will soon begin installation. You can expect to a

call Johnny in the near future as he schedules appointments for

each residence. While he’s there, he will check your current

smoke detectors, and install the new ones. If you have gas

appliances and are without a CO2 detector, one will be

installed. (NOTE: There will be a charge for CO2 detectors.)

We hope to have this project completed by the end of May.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Charles Bennett, Property Manager

CROWFIELDS

CHATTER

May 2019

INDEX:

Did You Know – page 1

President’s Report – page 2

BOD Meetings – page 2

Committee News – page 3

From the Editor – page 3

Activities & Events – page 4

The Open Book – page 6

Calendar of Events – page 7

Out & About – page 8

Garden Gal – page 8

Life at Crowfields – page 9

Farewells – Page 10

From the Kitchen – Page 11

Asheville Happenings – Page 13

************************ Edited & Published by Janet Moore

If you have ideas or an article or picture

for The Chatter, please contact Janet at

778-9300 or mp341683@gmail.com

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President’s Report The first four months of 2019 have certainly been busy and productive for

Crowfields. After 16 years of debate the BOD selected new siding to repair units

prior to painting. Then on April 25 nearly 100 people turned out for the Members Meeting to select a

paint color. With an amazing 150 in-person votes, gray was the overwhelming choice (96-52). Painting

should begin in June. The financing for this will come from the reserve funds, thus no assessments.

The Bylaws Committee, chaired by Aileen Estra, clarified many of our current rules and regulations.

Those clarification were adopted unanimously at the Members Meeting. Now work begins on the hard

part, actually changing, adding, and eliminating rules. Community input is essential for this part of the

process.

Our auditor’s report in April showed that we are in a solid financial position. We instituted a “Gifted

Monies” program which provides for people to donate to a special fund in memory or honor of someone,

as well as enabling them to bequeath part of their estate to Crowfields. These funds would be used for

special projects as designated by the donor. Forms are currently being developed that will be used to make

this happen.

The Architectural Review Committee (ARC) revised all of our forms for submitting renovation and

modification requests. ARC also developed forms for requests for individual unit generators and for

electric car charging stations.

The BOD is currently looking into flood insurance for Crowfields, and we hope to have that resolved

shortly. The other major ongoing project is the widening of Hendersonville Road. We have been working

with NCDOT on this, and they hope to start in July.

The last think I will add is that I want to thank the BOD – Jill Lambert, Susan Peele, Bill Spellman,

Calvin Christopherson, Jim Crook, Jane Fant, Dave Jones, and Don Cleveland – for all of their hard work

and support, without which none of the above would have been possible. They are the most hardworking,

intelligent, and devoted group of people I have ever worked with. The other person I must salute is Office

Administrator Gayle Connell who oversaw our voting procedures and who continually helps the BOD in

many ways.

George Watson

Crowfields BOD President

CCA Meetings for May 2019

May 7 – BOD Meeting 4:00 May 28 – BOD Workshop 4:00

Just a reminder: The new email to use when contacting BOD members is Crowfieldsbod@gmail.com.

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Committee News

Bylaws Committee Aileen Estra

On April 25th, Unit Owners present at the Members Meeting and their proxies unanimously passed the

Phase 1 revisions to the Crowfields Rules and Regulations. Many thanks to all those who participated in

the voting process! A copy of the revised document will appear shortly on the Crowfields website. Now

it’s time for the Bylaws Committee to turn its attention to Phase 2.

In Phase 2, residents are welcome to suggest changes, additions or deletions to the Rules and Regulations

document. Suggestions should be sent in writing to the Board of Directors via their email:

crowfieldsbod@gmail.com. The Board will forward your request to our Bylaws Committee and we will

arrange to meet with you during our regular work time to discuss your idea. Please be prepared to bring

any research with you to the meeting.

After discussion, our committee will make a recommendation to the Board, similar to the

recommendations offered by the Architectural Review Committee. (Note: Our committee recommends.

We do not decide. The Board of Directors is under no obligation to accept our recommendation.) If the

Board approves a rule change, 2/3 of the Owners and proxies present at a Members Meeting must also

approve the change in order for it to pass.

Not all requests can become rules. Rules must:

1. Benefit the Crowfields community as a whole.

2. Represent the wishes of a majority of Owners.

3. Conform to our Bylaws, and the laws and statutes of the City of Asheville and the State of North

Carolina.

Please be mindful in asking for a rule change. Other methods may be able to solve the problem without

the need for a rule change. The newly approved Rules and Regulations document is streamlined and

readable. It would be a shame to re-clutter it needlessly. That said, if there is an issue that is truly

important to you, please bring it to our attention via the process outlined above.

***

From the Editor:

We often find ourselves talking about our beautiful surroundings, which for many of us are why

we chose to live at Crowfields. This month, however, I’d like us to think for a moment about the amazing

people who are our friends and neighbors. What a hardworking, talented lot we are.

The most obvious suspects are our volunteer Board of Directors, committee chairs and committee

members. These folks have busy lives, but somehow they find time to do the business of Crowfields.

They aren’t just thinking about the present. They are also thinking about the future, and that is good news

for all of us. We owe them a debt of gratitude and the courtesy of respectful communication at all times.

Less obvious are those who contribute in quieter ways. Consider, for example, the stunning photos that

Darrell Hardister shares with us through The Chatter. It takes patience and perseverance to get just the

right shot, but somehow Darrell does. Or the enthusiastic team responsible for organizing. For those of us

who attended All That Jazz and Gardens, Too, featuring Queen Bee and the Honey Lovers. A big shout

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out goes to the Grounds Committee and in particular Martin Snyder who underwrote the cost of Queen

Bee. It was fun, creative, and informative.

Or what about the incomparable Helen Eill, the queen bee of activities who quietly finds ways to bring us

together for fun and fellowship, and Bonnie Gordon who scours the area looking for interesting and

entertaining outings? Or what about Crowfields Neighbors? Under the able leadership of Alice Magee

(she is the latest in a series of fine women to lead this effort), those among us in temporary need receive a

helping hand. It may be a meal, or a ride to the doctor’s office, or a comforting presence at the time of

loss. It’s been said that the 80 percent of life is showing up. These folks and so many more show up time

and time, again.

And speaking of showing up, how about the turnout for the April 25 Members Meeting? This was

consolidation at work and proof positive of the high level of engagement that exists at Crowfields. It

hasn’t always been this way. Kudos to us.

Janet Moore

Upcoming Activities/Events at The Clubhouse

May 17 Potluck

The April showers have brought us lovely May flowers. It’s that time of year for a little renovation. Let’s

renew some of our tried and true recipes by adding something we can only have in this spectacular

season. The May Potluck will be gathering on May 17 at the Crowfields Clubhouse at 5:30 for set up and

a wonderful buffet dinner at 6:00. Come prepared to share a funny spring memory. Laughter is the best

medicine. Questions? Call Adrienne Williams, 847-271-6134

May Movies

Monday, May 13 @ 7:00 "STAN AND OLLIE"

With their glory days as Hollywood’s premier comedy team long behind them, Stan Laurel and Oliver

Hardy begin a 1953 farewell tour of England and Ireland, reminding audiences and themselves of the

magic of their partnership.

Monday May 27 @ 7:00 "VICTORIA AND ABDUL"

The true story of an unexpected friendships in the later years of Queen Victoria’s remarkable rule. When

Abdul Karim, a young clerk, travels from India to participate in the Queen’s Jubilee, he is surprised to

find favor with the Queen herself. As the Queen questions the constrictions of her long position, the two

forge an unlikely and devoted alliance with loyalty to one another that her household and inner circle all

attempt to destroy. As the friendship deepens, the Queen begins to see a changing world through new eyes

and joyfully reclaims her humanity.

Note: When possible, the movies are subtitled and the sound is augmented. As always, lemonade, popcorn

and cheese crackers are provided.

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Don’t Miss A History of Ireland with Bill Spellman, May 7 and May 14

Our resident historian (and UNC-Asheville Professor of History) Bill Spellman continues

his fascinating and entertaining lectures on the people and political forces that have shaped

Ireland. On May 7, he will take us from 1690 to 1850, a period marked by (surprise!) more

rebellion against the English overlords; The Great Potato Famine, in which Ireland lost one-

third of its population; and the ensuing migration. He concludes the series on May 14 with

an examination of the rise of Irish nationalism and the push for independence, The Troubles and the Irish

problem complicating Brexit, Britain’s already messy exit from the European Union. To learn more about

Irish history, Bill recommends this five-part documentary, now available on YouTube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVbe8o7cU6o. A good fictional read on The Troubles (although not a

new one) is Trinity by Leon Uris. (Photo by Janet Moore taken at Kilmainham Gaol, Dublin, Ireland)

May 7: The Penal Age, Famine and Flight, 1690-1850

May 14: Nationalism, Independence, “The Troubles” and Brexit

***

The Big Trip 2019: Get on Board!! Bonnie Gordon

It's not too late to sign up for our fall trip to Europe. See the April Chatter for all the details. The final

payment isn't due till June 29 but the prices will increase as we get closer to our departure. As of today,

eight travelers have signed up. We'll depart Asheville on October 21 for New York. The Big Apple

beckons! Broadway and the Lady With The Lamp can't hold a light to us.

Then onto Venice. The gondolas, the pizza, and limoncello are waiting. After three

days, we board the NCL Star for a seven day cruise, with six port calls in three

countries. We'll be back in Asheville on November 4. Thinking about joining us? Call

Bonnie Gordon for information 828-773-1809.

***

Mother mallard with 13 ducklings behind 414 Crowfields

Drive. Make way for ducklings at Crowfields. (Photo by

Carolyn Jones)

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The Open Book Aileen Estra

One of the things I love most about belonging to a book club is that it

encourages me to expand my horizons, reading books I might not

otherwise have chosen. Our April selection—Varina, by Charles Frazier—

is a perfect example.

Varina recounts the life of Jefferson Davis’ second and much younger wife. It’s a work of historical

fiction, not a biography, and in the hands of a lesser author her life might have been reduced to cheap

melodrama, a set piece piled high with clichés. In Frazier’s hands, it becomes a haunting tale of tragedy

and perseverance, the story of a complex woman both trapped by, and complicit in, the culture into which

she is born.

The book begins on a chance encounter with a former slave many years after the Civil War. Meeting

“Jimmie,” now a teacher, has Varina reminiscing about her time as the First Lady of the Confederacy, and

her memory, dulled by decades of opiate use, is skewed. “Unreliable memory is all we have,” she says.

“Being on the wrong side of history carries consequences.” As a plantation owner’s wife and therefore a

slave owner, she both admits and justifies her complicity in the culture of the Old South. “Time flows one

way, and drags us with it no matter how hard we paddle upstream.” She is both kind and cruel, clear of

vision and selectively blind. An educated, intellectual woman, she has read all the Greek tragedies, can

discourse on Agamemnon and Oedipus, and yet fails to see her own hubris reflected in those pages.

Varina is a fascinating portrait of a woman, rendered with compassion and skill by an author with an

exceptional mastery of language and human psychology. It has been twenty years since Charles Frazier

wrote his Civil War blockbuster, Cold Mountain, In Varina, he returns to that pivotal moment in our

country’s history, and shines a light on our nation’s still-unhealed wounds.

The Crowfields Book Club meets on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 7:00 PM in the Clubhouse. Our

May selection is The Broadcast 51: Women and the Anti-Communist Blacklist, by Carole Stabile.

Please join us for an evening of wine, friendship and discussion.

We would like to extend our condolences to the family of David James, a longtime member of the

Crowfields Book Club. We are so grateful to have known David, and will miss his lively intelligence and

keen wit.

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Activities & Events for May

Refer also to the online Activities Billboards and monthly calendars available on Crowfields Members website, which can

be printed if desired. For general activities questions, please contact Helen Eill or Bonnie Gordon. Contact persons for

specific activities are indicated in blue following the activity listing below. Updates and reminders for activities and events

are communicated via the Weekly Activities Reminder distributed by the Crowfields Office.

MONDAYS 8:30 Walkers (Helen Eill)

10:00 Men's Coffee (Mike Herzoff)

12:30 Community BYOL (Ladies, bring your lunch

and treat to share)

2:00 Crafts and Conversation (Virginia

West/Adrienne Williams)

7:00 Mondays at the Movies

5/13 Stan and Ollie

5/20 Victoria and Abdul

THURSDAYS 1:00 Hand and Foot Cards

1:00 Crowfields Writers @ #214

5:00 Bocce

5/2 Out and About to French Broad Chocolate

Lounge (Meet at 1:00 to carpool)

TUESDAYS 7:00 Bill Spellman: The History of Ireland

5/7 Penal Age, Famine and Flight 1690-1850

5/14 Nationalism, Independence, “The Troubles” and

Brexit

5/28 @ 7:00 p.m. Book Group (Fran Myers)

The Broadcast 41: Women and the Anti-

Communist Blacklist by Carol Stabile

FRIDAYS 8:30 Walkers

11:00 Chair Chi

5/3 @ 5:30 First Friday Social

5/10 @ 4:00 Games, Games, Games

5/17 @ 6:00 Potluck (Set-up @ 5:30)

5/31 @ 12:30 Fifth Friday BYOL

WEDNESDAYS 8:30 Walkers

1:30 Mah Jongg (Anne Simmons)

6:30 Simple Suppers

5/8 Ribs, Pork & Chicken BBQ - 12 Bones

5/15 Roast Salmon w/ Wulfe Sauce –

Carrabba’s

5/22 Arroz Con Pollo – La Carreta

5/29 Chicken Marsala – Pomadoro’s

WEEKENDS

Saturdays

5/18 Out and About to WNC Quilters Annual Show

and Sale (Meet at 10:30 to carpool)

Sundays

5/5 Out and About to Reuters Center Singers (Meet to

carpool at 2:00)

5/26 Out and About to Folk Art Center/Memorial Day

Concert (Meet to carpool at 2:00)

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Out & About in May

(Unless another Leader/Contact listed, for more information, contact Bonnie Gordon 828-773-1809.)

May 2 (Thru) French Broad Chocolate Factory Tour, from bean to bite. Come with us on this fun

outing! Carpool departs at 1:00 from clubhouse for 2:00 tour. Tickets $6. RESERVATIONS

REQUIRED!! This is a tasting tour so an accurate advance count is essential. Call Bonnie Gordon for

info, 828-773-1809 https://www.frenchbroadchocolates.com

May 5 (Sun) Reuter Center Singers, community choir of OLLI, at UNCA. Free admissions but

donations are welcome. Carpool departs clubhouse at 2:00pm for 3:00 performance.

http://www.olliasheville.com/reuter-center-singers

May 18 (Sat) Western NC Quilters Annual Show and Sale at Bonclarken Conference Center, Flat

Rock NC. Http://www.westernncquilters.org. Admission $7. Carpool departs 10:30, returns ~2:00 pm.

May 26 (Sun) Memorial Day Concert at Folk Arts Center. Asheville Community Band presents

their annual concert and salute to veterans. Performance begins at 3:30. No carpool available, but a

volunteer driver would be greatly appreciated. Free admission, parking is limited.

http://www.ashevillecommunityband.com

Garden Gal Aileen Estra

I was sitting on our back porch the other day, watching the latest torrential rainstorm—

an event of near-Biblical proportions complete with an annoying power outage and a

soupçon of sturm und drang—and trying without much success to find “The Bright

Side” that my Mom always said was there if you looked hard enough. For some odd

reason, flowering dogwoods popped into my mind, and my dour mood improved substantially. (Note to

Self: Mom was a genius.)

Flowering dogwoods are among the most beautiful sights on our Crowfields

campus. Their showy blossoms, in shades ranging from white to pink to pale red,

lighten our mood after the cold, grey winter, heralding the arrival of spring’s

warmth. Grounds Supervisor Pete Ledford tells me that we have one-hundred-

forty-seven flowering dogwoods at the present time. These lovely ornamentals

thrive in areas of dappled shade, so our campus, with its towering stands of mature

hardwoods, is an ideal environment.

The name, “dogwood,” is thought to have been derived from the Olde English word “dagwood,” meaning

a tree whose branches could be used to carve the hilt of a dagger. Chaucer called it a “whippletree,” which

is the name of the piece of wood connecting a draft animal’s harness to the drag pole of a cart. Dogwoods

have been used medicinally for generations; the bark is rich in tannins, and a tincture made from the

ground bark or leaves is often used by herbalists to treat pain, fevers, and dizziness.

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Hardy though they may be, dogwoods are not invincible. A disease known as Dogwood anthracnose,

caused by a nasty fungus called Discula destructiva, can destroy these beautiful trees. Wilted, drooping or

spotted leaves are often an early sign. Eventually, the disease spreads to the branches, its spores carried by

birds and insects. If the disease reaches the main trunk, the tree will die.

Back in 2016, Pete did a survey which detailed the health of each of the hundred-forty-seven dogwoods

on our campus. The condition of each tree is updated yearly to follow its progress. Sadly, ten to twelve

dogwoods have been affected by anthracnose. Four trees have already been removed, with two new trees

replanted for every one that was taken. Eight more dogwoods are slated for removal in the near future.

Disease resistant species such as the kousa dogwood will replace the older, more susceptible varieties.

With common-sense care, dogwoods will welcome springtime at Crowfields for many years to come.

Good stewardship of our campus is a win-win for us as residents, and a must for the myriad wildlife that

calls it home.

***

We Jazzed It Up with Queen Bee and the Honey Lovers

What fun was had on April 25 when more than 50 of our Crowfields neighbors

and our grounds staff gathered in the clubhouse for an afternoon of music, food

and great information about how we can nurture Crowfields’ magnificent

campus. Joining Queen Bee were representatives from The North Carolina

Arboretum, The Audubon Society, Buncombe County Cooperative

Extension and Master Gardeners, The Botanical Gardens at Asheville,

Bee City USA Asheville, RiverLink and The Sierra Club. Grounds Committee member Kathy Hemes

got in the spirit with her festive bee ensemble. Jim Crook and Gil Estra handed out door prizes. The music

of Queen Bee kept our toes tapping, and a good time was had by all. Events like this don’t happen without

a great deal of behind-the-scenes work. So take a moment to thank the members of the Grounds

Committee: Co-chairs Jim Crook and Gil Estra, Teddi Bean, Charles Bennett, Nancy Crawley, Aileen

Estra, Jane Fant, Kathy Hemes, Milt Lambert, Valerie Larrea, Pete Ledford, Parker Moore, Anne Pastrich,

Susan Peele, Carol Schmidt, Greg Silliman, Martin Snyder, and Paulette Webb. Want to hear more from

Queen Bee and the Honey Lovers? Check them out at: https://www.queenbeeswing.com/

Life at Crowfields Janet Moore Photo of bluebird by Darrell Hardister

In case you haven’t noticed, we have a young

family in the neighborhood. The pair of Red-shouldered hawks who

nested in an oak tree in between Cluster C and E are busy feeding

fuzzy white enyas. The term enyas refers to a baby hawk, eagle or

falcon that is too young to leave the nest. Of course, you could also

call it a chick or a hatchling, but then you wouldn’t have another short

word in your crossword arsenal. Keen-eyed Darrell Hardister has

counted two enyas.

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Red shouldered hawks are common in our region, but that doesn’t diminish the wonder they inspire in us.

This medium-sized raptor is larger than a crow and smaller than a goose. According to Cornell

University’s Ornithology Lab, Red-shouldered hawks prefer deciduous woodlands, often near rivers and

swamps, and hunt small mammals, amphibians, and reptiles either from perches or while flying. The

colorful adults have dark-and-white checkered wings and warm reddish barring on the breast. The tail is

black with narrow white bands. Immature hawks are brown above and white below streaked with brown.

All ages show narrow, pale crescents near the wingtips in flight. To learn more about Red-shouldered

hawks and hear their distinctive call, go to: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-

shouldered_Hawk/id#.

Farewells Patricia Stevens Cox (Pat), 84, of 546 Lane, passed away peacefully on April 13 after a

long illness. Pat is survived by her husband of 65 years, Mack Cox, her son and daughter

and two grandchildren. A Celebration of Life Mass was held April 17, 2019 at the

Basilica of St. Lawrence. Memorial contributions should be sent to Habitat for Humanity.

Editor’s Note: Mack asked that I share this message with the Crowfields community. My thanks to Pat’s

friends at Crowfields for the kindness and sympathy shown to me and our family at her passing on April

13. She will be missed by many. Thanks. Mack (546)

***

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Former Crowfields resident, Marge Hankins, passed away March 28, 2019 in Nashville, TN. Marge,

who was known for her sweetness and humor, and husband, Harold lived at 457 Drive for 20 years,

relocating to Nashville three years ago to be closer to their daughter, son-in-law and three

granddaughters. Harold passed away in 2017. Sweethearts for over 65 years, they are together

again. Submitted by Virginia West

From the Kitchen

Rich Vanilla Panna Cotta with Balsamic Cherries Recipe by Gayle Connell

This is a wonderful, smooth and decadent dessert. Easy to make and delicious to eat. Panna Cotta

means “cooked cream” in Italian. You can top it with just about any fruit or even just chocolate whipped

cream!

Panna Cotta

1/4 cup cold water

2 1/2 teaspoons unflavored gelatin (from 2 packages)

3 cups whipping cream

2/3 cup granulated sugar

1 vanilla pod, scraped or 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Pour 1/4 cup cold water into small custard cup. Slowly sprinkle gelatin over. Let stand until gelatin

softens and blooms, about 10-15 minutes—do not stir. You will only end up creating lumps. Microwave

the mixture for 10 seconds on high, check to see if it is liquefying, microwave for another 10 seconds.

Check the consistency by swirling the mixture in the cup, it should be clear and the mixture should be of

pouring consistency. If it is not, microwave again for a few more seconds and check again. Set aside to

cool slightly. NOTE: Depending on your microwave, you may need more or less time than indicated.

Alternatively, you can bring 1 inch of water in small skillet to boil. Place cup with gelatin in water. Stir

until gelatin dissolves, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat, set aside to cool slightly.

Combine cold cream and 2/3 cup sugar, and scraped vanilla seeds (if using vanilla extract, wait and add it

with the gelatin) in heavy medium saucepan. Stir over medium heat, stirring constantly just until sugar

dissolves, about 6-7 mi. You should see tiny bubbles around the edges but don’t let it boil. Remove from

heat. Immediately pour in the gelatin mixture. Combine well. To be sure there are no lumps, strain the

mixture as you divide it among 6-8 wineglasses, small glass bowls or custard cups. Cover and chill until

set, at least 6 hours, preferably overnight.

Balsamic Cherries

2 cups fresh black cherries or good quality frozen black cherries, halved and pitted (no need to

defrost the berries)

2-2/12 tablespoons granulated sugar

4 tablespoons good quality balsamic vinegar

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In heavy bottomed saucepan, mix cherries and sugar together and bring to a boil. Turn heat to medium

and continue to cook for 3-4 minutes. Add balsamic vinegar, cook for another 3-4 minutes or until

reduced and syrupy. Chill mixture.

To serve place a generous amount of the cherry mixture on top of the chilled panna cotta, garnish with a

dollop of whip cream. Enjoy!

As a tribute to Bill Spellman and his terrific presentation on Irish history, I asked Helen McClintock, who

hails from Ireland, to share her family’s recipe.

Irish Brown Bread Recipe from Helen McClintock

10 oz whole meal flour* 6 oz all-purpose flour

1 tsp sea salt 1 tsp baking soda

1 oz butter (room temp) 400 ml buttermilk

1 large egg 1 tsp honey

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Sieve all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt into mixing bowl (crucial

step). Add whole meal flour. Rub or cut butter into mixture until it is crumbly. Whisk egg with buttermilk

and honey. Make a hole in center of mixture. Add liquid. Mix. Pour into greased loaf tin. Cut a ½ inch

line down the middle. OR place in round on a floured cookie sheet. Cut a cross into the top. Bake 40 to 45

minutes. When done, the loaf should sound hollow when tapped on the bottom.

*The key to this delicious bread is the Irish whole meal flour, not to be confused with whole wheat flour.

I use Odlums Course Wholemeal Flour which is available on Amazon. Daughter Amelia and I discovered

Irish Brown Bread during our trip to Ireland last summer; every restaurant we went to served it. Don’t

confuse it with Irish Soda Bread. It is a different creation all together, although it calls for soda. Helen

McClintock, who hails from Ireland, was kind enough to share this recipe of hers. Here is another one that

I found that replicates what we enjoyed. https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1016141-brown-soda-bread-

with-oats. Substitute honey or sorghum to add a hint of western North Carolina.

When “Iris” Eyes Are Smiling (Thanks to Nancy Landry for this “punny” idea.)

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How Does Your Garden Grow?

Walking through the community garden area, you might think that

you’re in a demonstration area with some plots (like mine) looking a

little worse for wear and others looking like they are primed and ready

for a Southern Living photo shoot. It is definitely worth a stroll down

to the gazebo to see what’s growing. (Photo of Charles and Susan

Peele’s garden.)

May Happenings in and Around Asheville

May 11 Buncombe County Master Gardeners’ Plant Sale. May 11 from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. at

the Red Cross building parking lot, 100 Edgewood Road. Over 1,900 plants including

perennials, annuals, non-plant items and tool sharpening. All proceeds go to support youth

education and outreach. https://www.buncombemastergardener.org/

Dahlia Tuber Sale at The N.C. Arboretum.

https://www.asheville.com/news/arbmum0407.html

May 11-12 World Bonsai Day at The N.C. Arboretum. https://www.ncarboretum.org/event/world-

bonsai-day/all/

June 1 Brain Health Conference to launch the NC Registry for Brain Health presented by

MemoryCare, NC Registry for Brain Health and the Asheville Buncombe Institute of

Parity Achievement (ABIPA). Topics include Preventing and Treating Dementia, Current

Research: What is Being Done Where? And The Importance of Research Participation. To

register go to: www.memorycare.org.

Beyond the Garden Gate: 2019 Buncombe County Master Gardeners’ Garden Tour from

9 a.m. – 3 p.m. https://www.buncombemastergardener.org/2019-garden-tour-garden-gate/

Tickets now on sale for Chow Chow, Asheville’s new culinary festival that will be held

September 12-15. https://www.exploreasheville.com/chow-chow-culinary-festival/

And Excerpt From A Spring Prayer by Robert Frost

Oh, give us pleasure in the flowers to-day;

And give us not to think so far away

As the uncertain harvest; keep us here

All simply in the springing of the year.