It's been a great couple of days. Actually starting with New Year's Eve. Had a lovely phone chat with a 'catter across the pond New Year's Eve. Then, a lovely phone chat with another 'catter across another body of water on New Year's Day night. Then Ela came, and we had a lot of fun. Then a lovely phone chat with a Mudcatter here in the continental U.S. this afternoon.

And all of the wonderful birthday and safe traveling messages on this thread. I just can't imagine a nicer way to spend a birthday. (Not to mention that lovely argument DougR started just for me on that other thread.)

Now... Spaw. I think it's time I returned some of the kindness you've shown me, especially the guidance and fatherly sort of help you've been giving me with my love life over the last year or so. As a (very) small token of my gratitude, I want to share with you my favorite recipe for steamed artichokes...

Steam three artichokes until the leaves can be easily pulled away from the stem.

Remove all of the leaves. Discard.

Remove the heart and stem of the artichoke and discard them.

Drizzle a little olive oil on the part that remains (the choke). Salt to taste. Eat, and enjoy.