The Swing

(For Sale: A child’s swing, used)

I came to buy the swing.

You advertised a swing, Ma’am?

Oh yes, the swing – a lovely swing.

We bought it only yesterday it seems.

It was our son’s fifth birthday.

Put it right here, love,

Here by my kitchen window.

I want to watch my darlings

As they play and swing,

For all too soon

I fear, they will be grown.

Look at the baby now,

Reaching for the ropes

And trying out her tiny hands

To pull herself up on the seat.

And look! she’s swaying

Back and forth

Her plumpness holding to the swing

And vying gravity

To pull her to the ground.

And Scott, he takes such care of her,

To see she gets no bumps

If he can help it.

Is it my swing, Mother,

Because it came on my birthday?

No, Sweet, it belongs to all three of you.

Daddy and I only thought

This was a good day

To buy a swing.

There, Becky Dear, you hold the baby Joan

And swing and sing to her

As I have sung to you

So many times

When we sat, you and I

In the big rocking chair,

Singing and pretending

The chair was a lovely swing,

A lovely, lovely swing.

Mother, the man is waiting.

He came to buy the swing.

Oh yes, Joanie, the swing.

You ask what price is it?

Do you have little ones, sir,

Who will use the swing?

Yes, Ma’am, three of them.

Take it then – there is no price.

I ask only this:

That you put the swing

By a window

And watch your little ones

As they swing,

As they swing, as they swing.

Grace Abia Brown Shriner

1911 - 2007

Easter Brunch at Affairs

I love the way our holidays march us along the seasons to an always-changing cacophony of food traditions. Religious, patriotic, or just plain fun-distracting, every holiday has a chance for a meal with as many people as you can round up. Or not: A couple of wonderful New Years Eves were spent high in the mountains of California with one other person and the huge silence of a cold clear sky. An evening usually spent in the company of many became a turning of the earth's silent movement. In the case of the upcoming spring holidays, a crowd is more likely, and Affairs is getting ready to host quite a few of you and your families. The restaurant rings with that hum of controlled hyperactivity that is the beauty of a busy restaurant kitchen. By this weekend, the 10-day setup sheet will be hung on the wall to lead the ordering, organizing, delegating, and prep along the week's road to a successful April 12th. Beside the setup sheet is the Benny Pot, a betting pool for how many Eggs Benedict we sell. Our kitchen must harbor a bevy of latent gamblers, but even the most conservative are in for the fun of it. It's how we keep going, humor and competition feeding energy for some long stretches of hard work. This one's been going on in our kitchen for years, and has developed its own set of strict and wacky rules. No, you can't get in on it, so don't try to stack the odds from your seat in the dining room.
I love breakfast menus, and this time of year allows me to bring some of the first growth from my garden to the kitchen. You'll see some of my fresh herbs and chives on the menu. Here it is below:

Eggs Benedict

Traditional benedict, poached eggs and Canadian bacon on English muffin,

with our own fresh hollandaise. 14

Crab Cake Benedict

Try this take on a tradition: our popular Dungeness crab and scallops cakes, topped with poached eggs and hollandaise. 19

Affairs Famous Quiche

Our rich and tender quiche, your choice of Crab and Shrimp with white cheddar or Fresh Asparagus with Swiss cheese. 14

Tuscan Spring Omelet

Diced fresh tomato, sun-dried tomato, fresh cut basil, roasted garlic, mozzarella and parmesan in a three-egg omelet. 15

U.P. Omelet

Diced ham and bacon, spinach, tomato, red onion, and cheddar cheese in a three-egg omelet, topped with our house made country gravy. 16

Joe’s Special

A famous and hearty three-egg scramble, with ground beef, onion, garlic,

spinach, egg, and parmesan. 14

McGregor’s Herb Garden Scramble

Three large eggs scrambled with fresh spinach, fresh cut garden herbs from a real U.P. rabbit’s delight of a garden, and smoked mozzarella, topped with fresh snipped chives. 15

Ribs and Eggs

Slow-roasted fall-off-the-bone don’t-worry-about-your-suit pork ribs, finished with our maple ginger glaze and served with two eggs any style. 15

Standard Breakfast

Two eggs any style, with your choice of bacon, Black Forest ham, or country

sausage. 12

Salmon Crepe

Gay’s tender fresh made crepes, folded over our house smoked salmon, moist and light on the smoke, topped with a mornay sauce. 15

Strawberry Crepes

Gay’s tender fresh made crepes, filled with fresh sliced strawberries, with crème anglaise and a small mountain of whipped cream. 12

Lemon Chicken Salad

Grilled chicken breast, melons, and cucumbers, tossed with our lemon honey mustard dressing, served on spring greens. 15

Kid’s Breakfast

One pancake (buttermilk, chocolate chip, M & M, or huckleberry), one egg, and

one bacon. 6

Strawberry Mimosas or Orange Mimosas $6.50