My lovely and gracious step-mother, Norma Noel Denny, passed away yesterday. She was a wonderful companion to my father, and much loved by all of our family. I will be taking time off from the blog so I can be with my family during this time.(Since I was already going to be away part of next week to participate in a panel on foodblogging at the SXSW Music, Film and Interactive Festival in Austin, Texas, it might be more than a week before I manage to update the blog, but I'll be back as soon as I can.)