Gadding About at A Place at the Table in downtown Raleigh

A Place at the Table is a nonprofit community restaurant where everyone can eat regardless of your ability to pay.  The food is quite delicious and there's a nice variety of breakfast and lunch items from which to choose.  This was the first time that I and my granddaughter Grace had been to this place, but today we decided to have brunch there.  It was a nice choice.  We both thought it was a good way to start our Sunday.

Josh, the manager of the cafe.

Grace ready to enjoy her waffle and latte. 

Grace's Belgian waffle. 

My waffle with bacon and two perfectly cooked poached eggs. 

The nonprofit restaurant was opened in early 2018 as Raleigh's first pay-what-you-can restaurant.  Prices are comparable to other downtown places, and those who can afford to pay full price can do so and even if they choose they can buy a token for a $10 donation or leave a tip that goes into the operating fund of the restaurant. Those who may not be able to afford full price can come in and choose a token and get a meal.  The person who uses a token must then volunteer their time in the restaurant in return.  Maggie Kane, the young Raleigh native, who opened the restaurant says this is a hand up rather than a handout.  I was also pleased to learn that the folks who work there are paid a living wage!

Outside tables as well as inside (Photo by Walter magazine.)

It was nice to be enjoying a good meal with people from all walks of life.  This is going to be one of my places to eat on a regular basis now, and I might even sign up to volunteer. It is such a wonderful way to help those who may otherwise go hungry, and it makes me proud to live in a city such as Raleigh.

Check out this article about Maggie Kane and APATT in Walter Magazine.

Gadding About in Amsterdam

Beautiful Amsterdam the city of dikes and canals. 

Before Jen and I took the Viking River Cruise this summer, we spent three days in Amsterdam where the Cruise began.  This was probably my favorite city that we visited during the three weeks we were away.  The highlights were the Van Gogh Museum and the Rijks Museum.  One day in each of these was not nearly enough time to appreciate all the beautiful art. 

There was one large area devoted just to Van Gogh's Sunflowers in the Van Gogh Museum.  

The Rijks Museum in Amsterdam.

A stained glass window in the Great Hall of the Rijks. 

The Milkmaid by Vermeer (Girl with Pearl Earring was on loan.) in the Rijks. 

Bicycles the common mode of transportation. 

We must include some of what we ate in Amsterdam.  Can't forget the food. 

We had dessert at the coffee shop at the Rijks Museum.  The cheesecake was embossed with an image of Rembrandt. 

Dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe where I had grenadine and sparkling water, and our waiter was a cute fellow named Jorg.  

Now off to board the Viking Ship and begin our cruise.

Gadding About at Grandson Brooks' Graduation from UNC Chapel Hill

Grandson Brooks. 

Time flies.  Now my second grandson has graduated from college.  It was fun attending the graduation activities last weekend.   Brooks received his diploma from the Kenan-Flagler Business School at UNC on Saturday afternoon at the Dean Dome. 

Proud grandparents. 

Brooks and his diploma. 

Since I had attended this awarding of diplomas, I did not attend the main graduation on Sunday at Kenan Stadium, but I did go to the brunch at the DKE Fraternity House after the Sunday ceremony. I almost missed it, because when I went to the Friday Center parking to catch a shuttle, the shuttles had quit running, but luckily a Chapel Hill Safety Transit car came checking in the huge parking lot and rescued me and three others who had missed the shuttle. I got deposited at the Carolina Inn across the street from the DKE House. Wonderful!

All the grands were there, as well as many of Brooks and Zach's friends.  (Zach graduated last year from UNC).  The food was especially good. 

DKE House

Meg and Victor keep the DKE House running. 

Grace. 

Zach and Grandpat.

Tyler will be a sophomore here next year. 

The whole crew.L to R Grandpat, Grace, Tyler, Meredith, Brooks, Michael, Zach, Mike.

The youngest grandson Tyler will be a sophomore at UNC next year, so in three more years we will be attending yet another graduation.  I'm wondering if granddaughter Grace will become a Tarheel as well.

Deviled Eggs for Cinco de Mayo

Deviled Eggs with a Mexican twist. 

I like deviled eggs, and I was inspired to make these today by Lisa Prince's recipe on WRAL. 

Ready to remove the yolks. 

I halved the eggs and put the yolks in a plastic bag so they could be mashed along with about a cup of guacamole, some Mayo, some sour cream and a bit of hot sauce.  I had never thought of mashing the yolks this way, but it works wonderfully.  Salt and pepper were added to taste.

Everything all smashed together.  Easy. 

Piping the mixture into the egg halves. 

After snipping a small hole in the corner of the plastic bag, it was easy to pipe the mixture into the egg halves. 

Ready for Cinco de Mayo. 

For some of the eggs, I added a dollop of salsa.  Salsa in the middle of the dish with chips and a bowl of chips on the side, and this is ready for tomorrow.

I couldn't wait to try the eggs so I added a few to my lunch today.  I have enough of the mixture to have Guacamole Eggs on toast for breakfast tomorrow.

My lunch today. 

Gadding About with Pedestal Source

The new pedestal for a new piece of pottery.

I needed a pedestal to use as a base for my new piece of pottery, so I went online and what I found was Pedestal Source.  They made exactly what I needed.  I can't say enough good things about this company.  There customer service was first rate. (I am not a paid advertiser for them by the way.)

When they finished it and was ready to ship they sent me a video.  Check out this Video.

The package arrived by FedEx promptly, and there were even instructions on the box as to how to open it.  I followed the steps, and the pedestal that was well protected with foam in the box came out with the bottom on the floor, and all I had to do was unwrap it.  I am so happy with this product.

The box. 

Instructions for unpacking.

A top piece of foam thanking me on the top of the wrapped pedestal. 

Foam all around the pedestal. 

Bottom on the floor ready to unwrap. 

The pedestal's new home in the dining room. 

Now I'm pleased that the new piece of pottery has a place to be displayed in the dining room.  Thank you Pedestal Source.