I’ve been practically fantasizing about homemade vegetable soup for the past few days after a close encounter with the fall and wintertime favorite at Jim’s Hot Dogs & Spaghetti in the Camayo Arcade Building on Winchester Avenue in Ashland.

Physically, I felt on the poor side of rotten all last week and was half asleep as I stood in a short line for lunch at Jim’s on Monday. I had myself programmed to order the “special,” which is two hot dogs, a bag of chips and a large fountain drink when I noticed the people in line ahead of me had a couple of big bowls of some good looking soup on their trays. I asked Jim if it was vegetable soup and if he made it himself. He answered yes to both questions.

I went ahead and ordered my hot dogs and took a seat near the folks with the soup. That’s when the aroma hit me. It smelled just like the vegetable soup made by my mom and grandmother.

I mentioned the soup to a co-worker who immediately had a huge smile on her face and said, “Is Jim making his soup? I’ll have to get some tomorrow. He makes the best vegetable soup.”

Needless to say, I’ve thought of that soup practically every five minutes since the statement was made. I felt worse and worse with each day of last week — convinced I have some mild version of the flu — and can’t stop myself from thinking a bowl of that homemade soup would have prevented all of this. Actually, I’ve been at that point where nothing sounds appetizing, although a bowl of that soup certainly sounds good to me.

Wimberly at Holly B’s

Susan Wimberly, the lady who designed the Ashland-themed plates, platters, ornaments, tea towels and mugs on the shelves at Holly B’s Jewelry & Gifts at 212 16th St., Ashland will be at the shop Oct. 16 and 17, signing the commemorative items for customers.

The decorative items, which are ideal gifts for people from Ashland who have moved away, feature 17 prominent scenes from the city including the old King’s Daughters Hospital, the bridges across the Ohio River, Mayo Mansion, the local railroad, Highlands Museum and Discovery Center, Paramount Arts Center, The Ashland Daily Independent, The Jesse Stuart Foundation, and the city’s skyline in addition to scenes from Central Park including the old log cabin and Winter Wonderland of Lights.

Shop owner Brooke Elswick-Robinson said Wimberly will be there from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. both days. For more information, call (606) 329-2588.

On the wind

I could not have made this one up if I had tried.

I was feeding my parking meter early last week and thinking, “I wish I had a new restaurant to write about this week,” when an orange piece of paper came blowing across 17th street and landed at my feet.

The brightly colored paper was actually a menu for The Diner at 2002 Greenup Ave., Ashland (across from Boyd County Ford).

The Diner opens for breakfast at 4 a.m. and remains open until 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The place is also open from 5 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.

I haven’t stopped by to try the food, but the menu advertises Every Night Large Pizza for $6.29 and a different lunch special for $4.19 Monday through Friday. The menu also advises diners to call for dinner specials between 5 and 8:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, but I called and was told The Diner closes promptly at 3:30 each day. The extensive menu offers something for just about anyone, ranging from cheeseburgers to pizza, catfish, barbecue, salads, an extensive choice of breakfast items and seven different “by the pound” items including chicken, egg, macaroni, potato and tuna salads as well as Cole slaw and barbecue.

For more information or to place an order, call (606) 324-7073.

TIM PRESTON can be reached at tpreston@dailyindependent.com or at (606) 326-2651.