I've won over the apple lady! Cavolo nero-ricotta tart to be made! Woman-hear-me-roar tree didn't make it

  This morning found all four of us headed to the market, and boy did we make a haul. Jack and Tom hit Bonaparte for their regular breakfast treats: raspberry Palmier for J, ham and cheese croissant for T. I bought another olive boule while there- it's such a lovely, light bread. Mmm. When I got home, I toasted some, spread it with goat cheese and then with that sour cherry spread I opened a couple weeks back. Anyway, we also picked out these technicolor cauliflowers and related cruciferous veggies. The boys swore they would taste each one, and I'm planning to hold them to that. Also picked up these incredibly fresh and gorgeous radicchio heads, kohlrabi, daikon and many pounds of wonderful apples. Speaking of apples, do y'all recall my previous post about how scary the apple lady is? She knows her stuff and has sooo many kinds of apples and pears, but darn it, she is strict and generally lacking in the humor department. Friends, I have won her over. She gave me a $2 discount and Oliver a seckel pear as a treat. We even shared a laugh. Perhaps this is because I took all of her advice or because I bought so many apples, but I'm not asking, and I don't really care. I'm just happy that we connected!

For dinner tonight, I'm going to make some ricotta and then use some of it plus the rest of my lacinato kale to make a tart that food52ers were raving about in an enthusiastic online dialogue recently. Friday was, so(!) sadly, the season finale of Bill Maher, so T and I will enjoy the tart while watching the last episode.

Do you remember, back in April or May, when I was determined to uproot the tree under our deck before construction on the new deck commenced? I toiled and struggled, riddled with sweat and sore muscles, ignoring T's suggestions that I probably wouldn't have much success, and did get that damn tree out and replanted. Whoo-hoo. Sadly, the tree ultimately didn't make it and Oliver and I had to dig it up and toss it out last week. It was dead as get out. Ah well, you can't win 'em all. I replaced it with a lovely tower boxwood.

Forgot to take picture, recipe posted, crazy busy

So sad that because of the forced alarm clock at 6am we just can't (or pay royally if we do) party like the old times. It's not that I party a lot, but sometimes it'd be nice to be able to and then sleep it off the next day. Sigh. Ah well. The potluck last night was such a blast, and it's a gorgeous day here today. Despite my suspicions that four errands was way too much of a morning for O and me, I schlepped him out anyway. T and J went to violin, art detectives and are now at a G'town basketball game- go Hoyas. So O and I went out, and thank god the nursery had cookies and apple cider in the holiday decorations area. Whew- that saved me. He really is such a good little guy though, and all In all, we had a lovely date. I became inspired and decided I must make a gorgeous wreath today; now I'm feeling some buying remorse and a slight bit of anxiety as a) I've never made a wreath and b) do I really have the time? That's a negative, ghostrider. We'll see how this mission goes. In the meantime, I am sorry to say that I completely forgot to photo the gorgeous salmon, potatoes and mushrooms last night but imagine a beautiful, pink side of salmon and the veggies slicked with freshly ground rosemary, salt, pepper and olive oil. It was so pretty and so good. I just had the little bit of leftovers for lunch and felt seriously happy to have them. The recipe is posted if you're interested.

Off to make some cranberry sauce.

Deals, great news re: environment, Berlusconi

Today's One Day deal at participating Whole Foods: whole, uncooked chickens are $1.29/pound (regularly $2.29/pound) If you're a DC-MD-VA reader, American Plant nursery is still offering 40% off all shrubs, trees and perennials, and today through Sunday, all decorative cabbage, kale and hardwood mulch will be 25% off.

Bloomingdales Friends and Family event is ongoing, 20% off most full- and sale-priced fashion, 10% off small electronics and men's electronics. If shopping online, try code HOLIDAY11.

Restoration Hardware Friends and Family event has  begun: 20% off all full-price merchandise. If you are shopping online, you'll be given a code there to use at checkout.

~~ On another note completely, did you see the fabulous news about the Obama administration's delaying of a decision about the Keystone XL oil pipeline? They should have just quashed it outright, but I'll take a year-long delay for now. ~~

Has Silvio Berlusconi had as much plastic surgery as had Qaddafi? Or does he have a bad make-up artist? Or is he just not aging well? In any of those instances, who is sleeping with him??