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The Tomie dePaola eNewsletter By Bob Hechtel, with Tomie dePaola The Weston Playhouse in Weston, Vermont is celebrating their summertime production of “Strega Nona” today with readings and discussion. As I’m writing, Tomie is driving to Weston to be part of the activities. It’s a rainy and raw day, so I doubt he will drive to Vermont with his convertible top down, but then, who knows? I clarified the dates for “Tomie dePaola’s Strega Nona.” Previews are June 14 and June 15. Opening Night is June 16. Tomie plans to be at the Opening Night performance. Weston, Vermont is important in Tomie’s history. Some Weston stories from the late ‘50s and early ‘60s are told in “A Weston Priory Christmas” and “A Vermont Farmhouse Christmas,” two chapters in his first book for adults, CHRISTMAS REMEMBERED. It will be published September 14, 2006, one day before Tomie’s 72nd birthday. Fifteen stories of Christmases past, perfect for enjoyment by the entire family, are featured in this book. Easter Sunday, Tomie celebrated by making dinner for friends. His menu featured Roast Loin of Lamb, prepared rare, with a sauce made from stock, pomegranate juice, sweet vermouth, garlic and peach pomegranate marmalade; Baby French Green Beans, blanched lightly, then sautéed and reheated in butter with chopped mint; and Colcannon, a traditional Irish dish. Tomie’s Colcannon was made with boiled potatoes, steamed cabbage, scallions, parsley and lots of good unsalted butter. YUM! Earlier in the day, Tomie emailed an Easter 2006 drawing of a bumble bee to some of his friends. The drawing was accompanied by the note: I have a nest of bumble bees, the nice fat non-stinging ones under the front door. 2 were sluggishly walking on the brick walk. They still looked sleepy, but maybe SPRING IS ON ITS WAY! xxoo Tomie We started cleaning the yard this week of leaves, dead grass and branches. I reluctantly pulled up the snow stakes. Have we had our last snowfall? I’m not so sure. Do all of our eNewletter’s worldwide subscribers know what snow stakes are? (I recently noticed we have a reader in Tanzania.) In northern New England, we place wooden stakes at the edges of the driveways in the late fall so the snow plow people know where they should and shouldn’t plow. All of the neighbors had pulled their stakes several days earlier. I was the last one. A teacher in Lakeville, Connecticut sent a note about a six-year-old boy, George, whose name we might want to remember. He’s certain to become a leader of some kind. He had read STREGA NONA MEETS HER MATCH in which Strega Nona’s friend, Strega Amelia, siphoned off Strega Nona’s business with her new-fangled ways. The story reminded George of Wal-Mart “because Wal-Mart knocks out independent stores and Strega Amelia is trying to do that to Strega Nona!” Another child overhead George’s comments and asked what independent stores were. George explained. Until next time, best wishes, http://www.tomie.com UPCOMING EVENTS OF INTEREST Saturday, May 6, 2006 Wednesday, June 14 – Sunday, July 2, 2006 Friday, July 28, 2006 Saturday, July 29, 2006 Thursday, September 14, 2006 Tomie dePaola’s first book for adults, perfect for sharing
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