Traditionally the First of May, known as May Day, is also thought of as the first day of Summer. I have always thought of it as the beginning of a new phase of the year. School is getting ready to end, graduation looms, plans for vacation are beginning to become serious. You get the idea.

I looked at my calendar recently and was amazed at the number of additions that will be coming for the Reading Table. Apparently all my favorite authors have decided to drop a new work within the next 2 months. Yikes!

Speaking of the calendar, we are rapidly approaching the end of the latest <cough> Fall Schedule. After last year’s strikes many shows had lots of abbreviated seasons, some drastically so. This has required some seriously creative story telling. The U.K. has had short seasons, usually less than 10 episodes, so this is nothing new to them.

This means I have time to catch up on shows that for whatever reason were left on the back burner. Guess I really will have to buckle down, eh?

The kitchen is another place of change. Menus for warmer weather are often looked forward to after months of heartier fare, but with the weather in such upheaval it is difficult to decide what to plan for. Like many folks having the oven on when it is warm outside is not a preferable option but …

I recently came across Food 52 and Erin Jeanne McDowell with a great lesson on How To Make Any Kind of Pull Apart Bread. This one might be worth having the oven on for a while when it is warm outside…

Otherwise, I am thinking salads, maybe a return to some gelatin salads and desserts. I love grilled chicken, so that could be on the menu, too. Let us not forget shortcakes with fresh fruits. They are the easiest, tastiest way to indulge a bit with Summer’s bounty.

I’d love to hear what you are looking forward to in your kitchen.