Diana's letter walks me through her strategy for the selections for my Swap Box. Seems like she has excellent searching and/or recollection skills.

Funny when this swap started I made a mental list of some things I thought some folk would send, I thought of Ann and her cards, you and your prints, some others too that I won;t mention yet becasue they havent sent yet and I would not want to say anything that might spoil a suprise. I also though lucky person who gets Diana!

And you are Cathy!

PS: Cathy everytime I see a pic of your laundry room I hang my head in shame!

And that cookbook - I'm pretty sure it's the one I stumbled on at Borders a few weeks ago when I was shopping for my swap partner (I think it's the same one). And it really caught my eye, but I put it back on the shelf bc. I was limiting my research to vegetarian cookbooks (my partner, Sally, is a vegetarian - and I'm always looking for delicious ways to get vegetables into my daughter). It looked great. Is it the one with some commentary on the visits in addition to the recipes?

I've only this summer found an olive oil I love (olio beato). And tasted some that were awful or just okay. What a difference a good olive oil makes. I've really increased my cooking with olive oil as a result. I wonder if I can find McEvoy olive oil here in DC. William-Sonoma, Whole Foods, mail order?

Mustangs - you're very lucky. Great going, Diana.

Lynn.

Shucks, there are reflections on the glass! I'll take another picture and try to eliminate the shadows.

Again, what a great package. It's got me salivating. I was going to go to Borders, but now I'll have to add a stop across the street at William-Sonoma in case they have that olive oil. Or, heck, I'll just sample what they do have.

Lynn.

Teresa

Diane, you are hopefully showing your art in a gallery. I would pay for the worth of that pear! Your talent is awe inspiring. Please show your work at the '07 Mystic Art Festival! Please!!!

I've intrigued with the EVOO. I've always just used the store stuff until finding this forum. Now, I'm experimenting and am mostly just confused.

The cookbook's title would draw me right in. I love the whole concept of "Sunday Suppers".

What a great swap present.

Tricia

I even love the reflections in the glass./
Quelle belle poire!
I'll google the cookbook..I mean..if it's that good:)

-Robin

Enjoy the OO & cookbook too .

I'll check out the EVOO and the cookbook. They look like winners as well. Diana, that is one heck of a swap package. Lucky Cathy!

Cathy you are SO lucky!!

I'll have to check out that book online. It sounds great, and the EVOO sounds like somthing to keep my eye out for.

Great job Diana!

Nice nice nice -- all around.

pam

Woweee. The pear and the frame are just super special and classic. What a talent!

Well done Diana.

Ann

David
(who loves his print of the two boats!)

Cathy, Enjoy that super package and, please post some recipes when you try them.

Tracey

Diana, I love George Rodriguez' Blue Dog prints. This artist is from my area. You have great taste and this is a great box ;-) Good going!

Great job, Diana.

Stacy

That print is just absolutely gorgeous, like every other print I've ever seen of Diana's, she is so talented.

I'm sure you'll love the olive oil too, my own personal favorite olive oil also came from Diana. She sure knows how to pack a box, doesn't she?

Enjoy everything, Cathy.

Diana, as usual, a superb gift.

Annie

Cathy had mentioned her kitchen was sort of Tuscan in reds and golds so I did everything in gold. I just set up my back room as a small photography studio and that pear was the first little shoot I'd done in it. I was pleased with how it turned out and when I was thinking of something for Cathy, I thought this might be nice because I had only taken it the week before and it hadn't been "seen." I must say, it looks like it belongs on your wall!

And of course, Sunday Suppers at Lucques... I'm always raving about the sweet potatoes with bacon, spinach and romesco sauce, which I had at A.O.C., Suzanne Goin's other restaurant... well, she included it in this book, too!

Vicki and I went to dinner at Lucques a week ago Sunday and had this amazing kabocha squash salad, which is also in the book. I got the book last Christmas as a gift and loved it so much. I hope you do, too, Cathy.

It was fun putting together a package for ya!

Enjoy it all Cathy!
janet

I've already picked out my first recipe and it calls for EVOO so I can enjoy both gifts.

Diana, Thank you for adding the additional points that I was too excited to share-even though I reread you letter and note several times.

David, I do remember your boats. I'm joining the club.

Tricia, If Diana does show at the '07 Mystic Art Festival, I want to stand in line to buy a coordinating print to go with my pear.

Karen, I didn't know that George Rodriguez was from your area! That's interesting. An artist from my area does blue cat paintings. I have several her cats; you can see why I framed Diana's Blue Dog.

"Blue Dog" goes with my "Blue Cats" in the laundry room:

And that olive oil muyst be pretty special!

Great job, Diane.

And the olive oil and cookbook are also well matched. Can't wait to see a recipe from this cookbook!

Nice job Diana!

Catherine

Linda

Mine, I tell you!

Doesn'tseemtomatterthatIamsuchafanIhavetheboatsphotoasascreensaver, doesit?

Poo.

I hope you know how lucky you are... *sniff, sniff*

Hey, maybe we could talk Diana into doing MOTO's. This space screams for a partner for MY Pear picture.

I wish you all could see it in person. It's beautiful.

Diana did a great job researching on you - congratulations on having her as a partner! I'll have to check out Lucques Restaurant some time when I'm on Melrose - they're having "dia de los muertos" this Sunday. I'll be interested to see what recipe you try first.

The print goes really well in your house--the framing looks very elegant.

Lars

(I also have a matchbook collection, and like you, can't add to it much anymore... but it is a bit of historical travelogue, isn't it!)

Super job Diana!

Very thoughtful package! Enjoy Cathy.