The Blog Cafe

I'm so pleased you can be with us today for our Blog Cafe luncheon. For those of you joining us for the first time, each Monday we gather at a different blog-- our host blogger chooses a local hot spot where we meet, what we eat, and a topic of conversation. Please join in by leaving your thoughts in COMMENTS.
A dear friend and neighbor, Kent Anderson, just opened this new place last month and it has quickly become a favorite. Small wonder. The smiles begin the second we step inside.
Can you imagine anything more charming than sitting under a canopy of lemon trees?
It is an especially treasured spot since this Mediterranean oasis is growing in a college & ski town almost a mile high in the Rocky Mountains.
Rooms are also available for private parties. Kent has thought of everything to make this dining experience a wonderful celebration of "insanely good" food and friends. And did I say it is very reasonable? It is very reasonable.
There are so many culinary delights on the menu, narrowing down our choices isn't easy.
My Darling Daughter and her Dear Friend are making the selections for us today.
We start with a rich, creamy mushroom soup and the potato-lentil soup. . . mmm. . .
. . . plus a couple of very tasty salads.

Your entree' is either the chicken crepes or . . .
. . .beef tenderloin in a semi-sweet glaze. Either way, you will be delighted.
Peter, Paul and Mary missed the mark when they sang about The Lemon Tree.

"Lemon tree very pretty and the lemon flower is sweet
But the fruit of the poor lemon is impossible to eat."

The lemon grove theme at this cafe extends beyond the decor to the dessert menu and, believe me, it is anything but impossible to eat. DD and DF said they HAD to have at least four. They created our own mini dessert bar so you can taste several of the heavenly things Kent can do with lemon.


Plus a little decadent chocolate, just because.
What a taste extravaganza!
What would a day "out" be without a stop at a shop? We're going to visit a little place that is just full of fun and fascinating trinkets. The girls will love it.
Just down The Avenue, the city restored this beautiful old academy that was built before the turn of the last century. Across the street from it is a building formerly known as the Women's Gymnasium which is now home to a Boutique. No photos allowed so when you are through browsing, we'll meet out in front.
The lovely lemon grove site for our Blog Cafe today is nestled along a river and woods with a river walkway and park. It is the perfect place for us to go to walk and talk.
Just up stream in the canyon, The Tree Room Author Series--"a way of engaging with some of the greatest writers and thinkers of today"--is featuring one of my favorite authors for brunch and a book signing on Dec. 11--Kathryn Stockett and her novel, The Help. I loved it. And the audio version features actresses who add Southern charm and warmth to the text.
Which brings me to our topic of dialog. Instilling traditions and expectations in our children is important. Guidelines for acceptable behavior are essential for a healthy society. Have you ever gone to a special event where children, teens or adults had not been taught company manners? Cultural mores help to make people more predictable. But as illustrated in The Help, some prejudices and fears are passed down from parent to child that are detrimental.

When I was in school, we studied about some native American groups who a millennium ago enjoyed very advanced civilizations in the western hemisphere. After disease wiped out the majority of the populations, the young ones who survived did not have the knowledge or skills to live as their parents had. Subsequent generations subsisted at very primitive levels. What essential skills have you learned that the next generation is missing?

I am particularly grateful to my parents and grandparents for teaching me to have faith in God and for the richness it has added to my life. I am also glad they stressed courtesy to all, taking responsibility for my actions, and for the emphasis they placed on education. They did have some prejudices too though.

What behaviors were taught in your home that have helped you to be happy and successful? Were there some traditions that have proven to be harmful? If you have already read The Help, how do you feel about the guidelines for behavior taught in the book? Is there value in keeping distance between employer and employee in the workplace? Or is it more beneficial to be close friends? Share your ideas in COMMENTS.