'Round the Kitchen Table: So Much to Celebrate

There's been so much fun stuff happening lately that I'm not sure where to start. I guess I'll just jump right in!

#1. The Good Life's Got a New Name

I decided yesterday to change the name of my blog to 'Round the Kitchen Table -- hence the new banner on the site, the new title in the feed, etc. You may be wondering why? (and that is a good question). The main reason I did it is actually #2 on my "so much to celebrate" list, so I'll just get right to it.

#2. My blog was officially accepted into the "Foodie BlogRoll" -- hence the new widget on my webpage -- and the desire for a new "kitchen-related" name. In my opinion, so many of the things that make for "the good life" happen around the kitchen table -- so it seemed to make sense. Anyhow, back to the Foodie BlogRoll -- since a good portion of my posts are food-related, I thought it made sense to try to be included in this list as a way to bring more readers 'round the table (pun intended). This means that my blog will be showing up anywhere other "Foodies" are posting -- and you'll have a chance to be introduced to some amazing foodie bloggers by visiting their sites as well. I'm pretty excited about it! Thank you FoodBuzz for liking my site!

#3. Kris Allen is still on American Idol!!!

OK, I know this isn't happening to me, personally, but I'm so happy that he's going on a hometown journey. I know there are a zillion Adam fans out there -- and I'll admit he's got talent, but he's not my style (I grew up worshipping the mellow sounds of James Taylor). I've been a fan of the underdog since Elliott Yamin - and this year Kris is my numero uno.

#4. The SUN came out today!!!
If you live in the northeast, I know you know what I'm talking about. There has been so much rain and so many clouds lately that I think the whole family was starting to suffer from mold allergies.

#5. POPPIES!!

Since the sun was out today, I decided to poke around in the yard a little today to see just how much the grass (and weeds) had grown with all the rain. Bad news -- I've got a terrific crop of dandelions growing this year. Good news -- the flowers are blooming just the same! Three gorgeous poppies burst forth this morning -- and there are at least 50 more that are getting ready to go within the next week or so. Let's hope the rain is finished for awhile so these delicate gems can be enjoyed in all their glory. Here's a few random shots from around the yard.