NDP's Facelift

Welcome to the new and (hopefully) improved Not Derby Pie! I hope you like the new layout and scheme. Please leave comments with feedback -- I'm always looking for ways to improve (and attract more readers!)

Now, for an update on the life of NDP:
I've spent much of the last two months fretting and sweating over my new blog, http://www.notderbypie.com/. (Don't go check it out! It's a mess right now. :)) I've tried every available template, messed around with the layout to the best of my (minimal) ability, and even taught myself bits of HTML so that I could make the stupid, kitschy graphics on templates go away. All this, to no avail. I still can't find a template that I like. My preferences are actually pretty simple: I want a three-column split template with netural colors, some greens, good fonts, and general flexibility re: moving things around on the page. Sound simple? Think again.

If you or your friends or hey, your enemies -- I'll take anyone -- know HTML and are looking for an opportunity to be published and credited, a volunteer project, or a charity case (that's me!), please be in touch with me at RivkaFriedman(at)yahoo(dot)com. I could really use the talent and generosity of someone who knows what he/she's doing. Thanks so much, and I look forward to lots of feedback...

Where is Fall?

As fall-themed recipes have started popping up on other people's blogs, I've begun to notice my own reluctance to dig out the pumpkin puree from the pantry. Normally I make fall recipes too early, out of sheer excitement for sweater season, but this year the transition is taking a while. It's already mid-October and the weather has not let up one drop. As my friend Dave so eloquently put it, "where is the cold, apple-crisp air of fall? Things seem unnaturally fecund, overgrown, about to rot."

Perhaps this post will trigger a weather change. If only I had that much influence...