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The Weekly Newsletter for June 9, 2014
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And life continues to continue... Our very special shop saint, Irvegg Romero, has done us proud, and married his darling Lily.
Here is one of his photo favorites, and if there is a more moving portrait of happiness here in the mountains, I couldn't possibly think of it.
Music, beauty, gallantry, darling pups, and a woodpile. Perfect.
As always, more formal portraits will follow, but please come say "Congratulations!" to him...
Irvegg is our chalk artiste, and is about to update his chalk portrait of Laurey on our sidewalk sandwich board.
We love his artwork, and we do do love our Irvegg. And Lily, too! Don't Postpone Joy!
- from Heather Masterton
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Dinners to go for the week
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Here are dinners to go for this week. This, if you do not know, is a fabulous way to have dinner. It's easy - just call us by noon and your dinner will be ready for you to pick up by 3 that very day.
You can stop by to pick yours up until we close at 8.
Add salad (3.25) or bread (1.25) if you like.
Monday, June 9
Chicken Croquettes with Applesauce 8.95
Tuesday, June 10
Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Sauteed Vegetables 8.95
Wednesday, June 11
Rosemary Grilled Bistro Steak and Parsley Potatoes 9.25 *GF*
Thursday, June 12
White Wine Shrimp with Orzo, Spinach and Mushrooms $10.95
Friday, June 13
Pan-fried NC Trout Filet with French Potato Salad 11.95
....and here is the entire June menu!
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Casserole and Lasagnas to go !
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Casserole of the Week
June 11: Chicken Tetrazzini Whole $35/Half $17.50
Lasagna of the Week
June 13: Garlic Parmesan Chicken & Spinach Whole $48/Half $24
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Wonderful, wonderful daily delights!
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Come have a sweet, a savory, a trifle.
Here is a link to the page with our specials of the day - what is special in the deli case today, what the up-to-the-minute specials are for Dinner-To- Go.
Whatever is right there on the deli case, right there next to Henry's picture from the 4th of July Parade (in full fireman's regalia, you will note), that's almost always my favorite.
These were Expresso Shortbread Cookies with Chocolate Ganache!!
Come have a bite. You'll love it!
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Laurey's notes (from a lifetime of writing)
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[So much has been written about Laurey and her life projects, but of course the best spokesman is Laurey herself. In this column we present archival reprints of her messages. This is an early newsletter from her online records.]
July 17, 2004
 One year ago I signed the lease to move into this new space. I don't know about you, but it is now hard to imagine us being anywhere else. Last year on July 14th we had a party and celebrated the signing of the lease, celebrated the decision, and had a new shop blessing. We had the run of this big empty space and, as I recall, we had a fun party.
I sit here at my desk today and remember the near panic I felt about moving my office from its spot down below where I now am. How, I wondered, would I cope with a smaller space? (This office is about 15' x 20' with a big chunk taken out of one side - it's SMALL and four of us work here.) What would it be like to be so visible? (In the old office I could hide behind a big wooden column. In this office I am right in front of the door.)
But Emily kept telling me it would be fine, and she was right. Actually, as memory serves, there was a day when I really lost it and Emily, Karen, and Maurie had to take me across the street and stick me in the middle of their huddle and tell me it was all going to be good.
I have not been good at change historically. I'm one of those people who has liked to put something in a place and leave it there. I know other people who change things all the time. Not me. At least, not in my past.
Now things feel different. I feel refreshed by change, especially by this one. I like the way things are going here and I like that it is not always exactly the same all the time anymore. I have relaxed over time, to some degree, and am letting go more and more and seeing that things are actually a whole lot better the more I relax and trust. This change has been very good.
Karen has been doing a lovely job keeping the shop jazzy and fresh. It keeps us all on our toes, staying up with what is where. The kitchen staff has been doing a fine job keeping the deli case filled with new salads. Of course we have some standards all the time too - we hear about it if we don't - but it makes all of us happy to see the great things on display. And, for so many of you who come three or four times a week, it makes it fun for you too.
This morning we sent out 180 boxed lunches. I came to work and saw that production was well underway. The gang were calmly assembling the boxes, and all seemed good. We have weddings, parties, lunches, and other things going on too. The place is humming. But there is plenty of space, plenty of light, plenty of room for anything.
I'm pleased with this new place. The air is good. The light, strong. The mood is calm (usually) and, well, it was a good thing to do this move. Thanks for coming to see us again and again, my friends. You make all of this possible for all of us.
[source: Laurey's Cafe and Catering newsletter, July 17, 2004]
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Harvest Tables, we love you! Thank you, Jon! Thank you, Laurey!
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Emily and Adam Thome are the hardest-working principals any company anywhere could ever hope for. They bring their love of Laurey, their years of experience working at her side, fulfilling her vision, and carrying on her dream to every single thing they do.
One of Emily's campaigns is to update, clean up, spiff up as we go along. The wonderful cafe tables and chairs have "had a life", as I like to say in the antiques business.
Emily's vision is to add the charm and heft of the family farm table to our cafe world. We've had one for a long time, way at the back in the cafe. A popular meeting point over the years - seems like there's always some one, or some twos, at that generous-sized table.
We spread out our papers, meet with our buddies, gather and chat and whirl along.
The smaller tables are fun, and will certainly stay in play, but we have ADDED two new units here. One is a lovely worn foam-green table that seats about six, gifted from Laurey's own house.
Come have lunch at Laurey's kitchen table, literally.
Along with the green table came five of Laurey's red designer dining room chairs. They are a bit lower, and slip under the skirt of the harvest tables more easily, for us taller, modern folk. But five? Where does THAT work?
This week, a second table arrived from Laurey's employee of many years ago, the successful business owner of our delightful downtown neighbor, Mamacita's Grill.
Jon Atwater founded Mamacita's ten years ago, and almost immediately busted out the doors on a winning restaurant. Laurey dined there often, and in the way of restaurant owners, was happy to eat someone else's cooking.
Jon found himself with one GREAT harvest table as surplus in his world, and it now resides just outside Laurey's office, an area which has always worked well for larger groups. (The French Club! The Chamber! The Tai Chi ladies!)
AND - it turns to to be a perfect fit for - the FIVE red chairs! What beauties!!
As we say in Vermont, "Come set awhile."
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On our visit to Kentucky, we were delighted to see that Laurey's yard art, a wildly colorful lady hoisting a water jug, has been restored to life by Lucinda's sweetie, the farmer and astonishing man-of-all-skills, Greg.
Here is a labyrinth. Inspired by Laurey, developed by Lucinda. 
"Laurey drew the labyrinth design, and gave me a $100 gift from White Flower Farm for my birthday," Lucinda, cheerfully rueing the day.
Together they stepped out the design, which originally wound about four moderately unhealthy pear trees, long since reduced to decorative posts.
You've got to know Lucinda to understand what happened next.
The labyrinth is now massive, overflowing with lilies and iris and hibiscus, years in the making. (Aided and abetted by a LOT of horse manure, Kentucky's finest, part of what Greg genially refers to as "indigenous material".)
Shade-loving hydrangeas thrive under broad apple trees, sunny coreopsis in the open bits. The narrow grass path flips forth and back and forth again, ending at a small green pool, complete with water lilies and goldfish.
When I lived at Lucinda's for a year, one of our summer tasks was rescuing the bubbler, a small wobbly fountain intended to aerate the water for the fish. Up to our hips in fish-happy water, groping along the bottom through last winter's leaves, plumbing the depths for the missing component that had JUST dropped out of our hands. Ah, country life...
NOW - comes Greg, comes the colorful lady, and comes water flowing forth.
A delicate matter, modifying the lip of the jug so the water returns to the pond cleanly. And here she stands, yet another being restored to life, in her place, burbling softly in just the right spot.
She was terrific yard art, wasn't she, friends? And what a beautiful, beautiful fountain she has become. Thank you, Greg dear.
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 Scene: Returning from feeding horses. Actually, returning from feeding one niblet at a time to a generally-tolerant giant who needed his feet slathered in salve. Fending off another horse lady who really really wanted a niblet for herself. Really really.
Characters (and I mean that): Lucinda is covered in salve. I am covered in horse spit.
Attire: Horse-feeding gear. I am sporting Laurey's Ariat barn boots and Greg's shirt. Lucinda in Vermont's finest. Me with no makeup, slept-in hair, no product. (Never happens, trust me.)
Just want to share with you the glory of farm life. No further comment.
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