American Premier of THE WAY YOU LOOK TONIGHT at Monmouth University Shadowlawn Stage

Chairde means friend - and we always love sharing news about our friends.

Irish writer Niall Williams, the author of the international best-selling novel FOUR LETTERS OF LOVE, will be on the Jersey Shore this coming week to attend the opening night performance of the American premiere of his play THE WAY YOU LOOK TONIGHT at Shadow Lawn Stage on the campus of Monmouth University in West Long Branch, NJ. The play runs June 27th thru July 13th (www.monmouth.edu/shadowlawnstage ). Williams, who co-authored with his wife Christine the popular non-fiction book series O COME YE BACK TO IRELAND: OUR FIRST YEAR IN COUNTY CLARE (about the couple's "reverse immigration" odyssey from NYC back to their home country) will also appear at the Spring Lake library the evening of Wednesday June 25th to talk about his career and to sign copies of his works.


This looks to be a great evening of theatre at a wonderful venue. And I'm delighted to say that two of my good friends, Georgette and Bill Timoney, are also appearing in the show. That's where the Chairde comes in.

But they aren't just friends, they are wonderful performers. Bill and Georgette have appeared in a number of plays together, including productions at Shadow Lawn and at the Celtic Theatre Company. Bill has a long career on stage, television and movies. Plus - they're nice folks.

This is the American Premier of a show that has received high praise in the Emerald Isle.

For more information or to make reservations, you can call the theatre at 732-263-6889.

The Sun in the Morning and the Moon at Night

June has some fabulous days coming up for us. For those in school - vacations are about to start. And Thursday is World Sauntering Day. Yes, a whole day that says walk slowly, observe your surroundings, take a gentle stroll and smell the roses.

Or maybe smell the strawberries. After all, it is strawberry season - and a strawberry moon is rising. The full moon is on June 18th and Native Americans tribes of the New England and Great Lakes area called it the Strawberry moon because the succulent berries are in season.

But that's not all this week has to offer -

right at the time of the full moon we have it - the official start of the summer season. June 20 is the Summer Solstice. Day is at it's fullest and longest. I always like to try to see both sunrise and sunset on this magical day. Plus we'll have the joy of an almost full moon, so if the clouds stay away. It will be a bright day all around.

Snappy Salad for a Steamy Summer Day

First, I have a confession... I watch the Disney Channel. Yes, I'm a grown woman with grown children, but sometimes I just need harmless brain candy. You know, something to focus your eyes on that requires no thought or processing.

They have a segment called Pass the Plates, which actually has some interesting and unique recipes from around the world. I was watching an episode about banana's that got me thinking. The recipe the talked about was Durban Curried Banana Salad. I'm not fond of curry, but the inspiration for creation struck.

So here's my nutritious, very different, summer salad for a hot day.
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Spinach & Banana Salad

For the salad, you'll need ....

• 1 medium, ripe banana, cut into 1/2 to 1 inch slices
• 1 cup of baby spinach leaves
• 1/4 cup sliced mushrooms
• a hand full of pine nuts (optional)

For the dressing, you'll need...

• 4 tablespoons Hotpricot Jam (apricots and hot peppers). You can also use 4 tablespoons apricot jam and add a dash of hot sauce or a small amount of diced hot pepper of your choice.
• 1/2 cup plain yogurt
• salt and pepper to taste

Toss the salad ingredients together. In a glass bowl or glass measuring cup, warm the apricot jam on low for about 1 minute. Watch it as microwave temperatures vary. Carefully remove the bowl (use a pot holder as the glass will be hot).
Whisk the jam to keep in lose.
Pour the jam over the salad and toss.
Next add the yogurt to the salad and toss.
Add salt and pepper to taste.
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I know it sounds a little strange, but it was really good. Surprised even me! Sweet and savory, warming and refreshing all at the same time.

For the original recipe, you can go to Disney Channel Pass The Plate and click on South Africa. And if you've got any unusual recipes you'd like to share - feel free!

A Rosy Celebration all Month Long - National Rose Month

I must admit, I was never a big fan of roses. Oh, they were pretty enough and they smelled OK. My grandmother had some roses in her garden, as did my mother and father. Most everyone I knew had some kind of rose. But roses always struck me as prissy, fussy flowers, requiring tons of attention and care. I was young, what can I say.

Now, I have 4 rose bushes in my yard that are true joys. I'm still not a true rose gardener, though, because I can't tell you the names of the roses. I can, however, tell you a little about them.

One of the oldest roses in my garden is a lovely, lavender colored hybrid rose. It struggles desperately every year, as I do have a problem with black spot in my yard - and three huge apple trees. Just when I think this little gem is done for, it comes back with some beautifully colored blossoms.

My climbing rose is extraordinarily happy growing up an old clothesline pole. It has tiny peppermint striped flowers that bloom heavily throughout the season. I really need to cut it back this fall, but it just looks so happy! And I always have birds nests in it.

My real pride and joys are my two rugosa rose bushes. They only thing I have to do with them is pick off the Japanese Beatles when those little buggers come around. The smell from these bushes is almost as magical as the wafting scent of my lilac.

These garden delights do not get treated with any chemicals or even fertilizer other than some compost once a year. Occasionally, they'll get a garlic oil and baking soda spray to help fight fungus. I USE my roses for so many things, I want to make sure they are safe and sound.

For example, dried rose petals are used in our So Soft Bath Salts. I also add dried flowers to a mix of cornstarch and rice flower for a lovely scented powder.

Fresh rugosa petals are infused into vinegar and honey to make our Honey and Roses Bath Vinegar. They are also infused into the vinegar of our Do Greiné Sunburn Spray. We use infused rose water in a number of body butters, and Rose scent in Moonlight and Roses Body Butter.

We also make rose hip jam and jelly from those wonderfully plump rugosa rose hips (rose hips are the berries of roses - I don't dead head my roses either, so I can get lots of berries). I mix the rose hips with beach plumbs and wild raspberries for the delightful Jersey Shore Jam. I've even made beads from rose petals! If you go here it give wonderful directions to make the beads - with pictures!

Roses are rich in history and grown around the world. About Flowers has some wonderful trivia facts, although it is on their Valentines Day page. Even if you aren't the biggest fan, take some time to celebrate the national flower of the US - the rose! You can find out more about roses at The American Rose Society or The National Home Gardening Club websites. There you'll find great tips to help with troublesome roses, if you're into that kind of thing ;)

Or find ways to celebrate on your own: Give a rose bush or some cut roses to an elderly neighbor or friend; try making rose petal jelly; research the many legends about roses; send cards to friends with pictures of roses; press some roses to use later for cards or pictures; or visit public gardens or rose gardens; look for the best roses or rose gardens in your neighborhood and tell the owners how lovely their roses are.

Or.... just stop and smell them.

Happy National Rose Month!