Are you upgrading from SledgeLink, one of the ISPs Lil had to use during her recent troubles? That would explain having to do something else for a while.
Lil, simply inspired by your example, last night I "whizzed up" (literally, since I used an immersion blender on part) a batch of split pea soup au BourrUbu; among other oddments, I added barley, rice, carrots, ground caraway, ground rosemary, dill weed and tarragon. Delishissimo! I plan to make it again tonight along with cumin-sage cornbread. BTW, your UU mailbox is full.