The 5th Annual “A Romantic Valentine’s Evening” took place at Sixth Avenue Wine & Ale Monday night (they have to do it on a Monday, the night they’re usually closed).  Retired teacher David Bengtson sings and reads poetry, most funny and a tad bawdy, accompanied on piano by his wife Marilyn.  For the 5th straight year, the poem, “The Shirt,” was featured.  For some reason it is a favorite of the ladies.

The Shirt

By Jane Kenyon 1947–1995 Jane Kenyon

The shirt touches his neck

and smooths over his back.

It slides down his sides.

It even goes down below his belt—

down into his pants.

Lucky shirt.

Kenyon was born in 1947 in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and grew up in the Midwest. She earned a B.A. from the University of Michigan in 1970 and an M.A. in 1972. She won a Hopwood Award at Michigan. Also, while a student at the University of Michigan, Kenyon met the poet Donald Hall [Poet Laureate of the United States, 2006-07]; though he was some nineteen years her senior, she married him in 1972, and they moved to Eagle Pond Farm, his ancestral home in Wilmot, New Hampshire. Kenyon was New Hampshire’s poet laureate when she died Saturday April 22nd, 1995 from leukemia.

Looks like a very nice Valentine’s celebration.  Great picture of Ruth.  Such a sad story for the poet who appears to be one of our contemporaries, and a reminder of our own vulnerabilities.  She looks so healthy in the photo. The poem is so simple, but loving.  I was expecting something raunchier.  ~ Fran

That is a great poem.  I have read books by Jane Kenyon and Donald Hall because of the Ann Arbor connection. Donald Hall wrote a heartbreaking book of poetry after his wife’s death (Without).  The dinner sounds delicious and I’m sure it was much less expensive than a comparable dinner in the DC area!  ~  The Nanner

Valentine’s Dinner – February 11 @ Sixth Avenue Wine & Ale

Join us Feb. 11 for a romantic evening featuring a 4-course dinner and poems and songs about love with David and Marilyn Bengtson. The cost is $40 a person. Doors open at 5:30 and serving begins at 6:30. We have just a couple seats left. Call 759-2277 for reservations.

1st course – Salad – Mixed fresh greens with crisp granny smith apples and dried cranberries topped with full-flavored gorgonzola and walnuts. Dressed with house-made apple cider vinaigrette.

2nd course – Pan-seared bay scallops served on a bed of marinated julienned cucumbers and mixed bell peppers

3rd course – Tuscan chicken – baked chicken with rosemary, parsley, garlic, fennel seed and orange zest and drizzled with a balsamic vinegar reduction served with a mélange of roasted fingerling potatoes, cherry tomatoes and bacon.

4th course – TBA What epitomizes Valentine’s Day better than a rich chocolate pastry from our pastry chef.

[Lest I forget, we had a foot of snow over the weekend.  Four more inches last night (Wednesday).  Winter has finally arrived.]

[So Monday, before the evening’s festivities, we had to be plowed out.  Only the 3rd time in our 12 years here we’ve had to do so!]

[It was still windy so the stuff really flew!]

A few wildlife photos from Alexandria native, long-time Seattle resident and professional photographer, Terry Lang, taken in Canada:

[Snowy Owl, above and below]

[The national symbol]

[Heron]

And last, but certainly most, Happy Anniversary to the Supervisor!  😉

It’s our 12th, a Baker’s dozen, minus one.  I believe it’s caulk?

I know many have wondered based on my advanced age if there was ever a previous supervisor.  The answer is “no.”  The supervisor did have a previous supervisee, however, and, as a result, I inherited two lovely young adults, thus avoiding those messy diaper and hormone years!  😉

And a lovely parting gift from Ruthie’s sister, Rita, a/k/a, The Other Biddy.