My Vintage Cottage Kitchen and the Farmers Market

Saturday Morning at the Farmers Market

Saturday was a busy day. We started off at the Minneapolis Farmers Market. We hadn't been there much all summer. The reds were abundant this weekend...There were tomatoes and peppers everywhere!

A portion of purchases... Basil, Tomatoes and Red Bell Peppers

A beautiful red pepper and my basil in a mixing bowl

 The basil was a most likely the last of the season, so I purchased a great deal of it and plan to make pesto with it. I have already froze a small batch in a container, I will check to see how that froze up. It may be a great way to have fresh basil for maybe Basil fried rice this fall and winter.

The perfect partnership, basil and heirloom tomato

The heirloom tomatoes were available as well, not as readily as roma and some other varieties, but I LOVE the flavors of an heirloom tomato!

Three tomatoes

 And when we happened upon bunches of concord grapes, I had to have them. They are tricky to find form year to year. Not all get a good harvest. I remember about six or seven years ago, they were everywhere! All of the local co-ops had them.. since then, I have only seen them at the farmers market. I think one year, one of the local co-ops had a small crop in... If you have ever had a fresh concord grape, they taste like NO OTHER! Seeds only slow down consumption so you can revel the taste.

Delicious and Beautiful Concord Grapes... yes there are seeds, but they make you savor the flavor of the grape, smells like grape bubble gum- YUM!

Our Kitchen table... 

After the farmers market, it was on to a local lumber yard showroom to listen to a talk by Sarah Susanka. I had seen her speak before and have several of her books. My House mate, however, has been fascinated by my books and wanted to go as well. I was interested in what her latest was.. so off we went after returning home from the farmers market.

The open pantry door... not much counter top space

 Returning from the showroom event, it was quickly load up the car with items to bring back out to mom and dad's. I haven't the room for it and needed to peel off the attachment. Things to get by with.. and return dad's totes.. he wants to get ready for fall hunting and realized, he had no totes.. he lent them all to me for moving..

The cooking and clean up section of the kitchen

 Sunday was the day to go through final boxes of kitchen items and get things put away. The pesto hasn't been made yet, however, we were able to actually eat dinner at our kitchen table. It is cozy, but nice.
Today I make the pesto and other goodies for stocking my pantry.. I think I am going to dehydrate the peppers with olive oil and smoked sea salt for flavor, they will be great in pita sandwiches... and whatever else I dream up.

Depending on how it goes, I may work on the basement again... at least an hour. I wonder what I can get done in an hour?  I want to get those draperies sewn.. this week.. the cutting mat has been retrieved along with my plants and my boxes of photos... Oddly, we brought out a carload of stuff to mom and dad's and returned with another carload!

A day of New Friends...

Yesterday, I allowed myself to meet with some new friends. Others, who share my passion for sewing and Fabric!

My friend, P.D. who will soon have a blog of her own, may become a recurring character in my blog world cast of characters... she has already played a part, see the link after THIS post to go to THAT post. (there must be an easier way to do that, I just haven't figured it out yet)

Anyway, back to the day yesterday. It was a gorgeous day and J. H. presented a lovely Swedish style lunch of open faced sandwiches, a beautiful vegetable salad and refreshing summer wine, as well as a Swedish Zoft (I believe that is what she called it) made with currants.

We sat out on the patio under the umbrella all afternoon and talked sewing, buttons, inspirations, challenges, opportunities, fears, challenges, it was a glorious afternoon!

It is the type of community that I exactly want to create with this blog!

We all left the day feeling inspired, validated, refreshed and excited to have new delightful group of people to share sewing and creativity with.

I wish I would have gotten permission to photograph the beautiful day and the presentation of the delicious lunch to share with you all. You will just have to take my word for it.

Think green, sunshine, birds, chipmunks and a cat. Add vintage buttons, fabric swatches, photocopies of pattern envelopes, laughter and a great collaboration of ideas! EG shared her challenges and triumphs, what a wealth of fabulous ideas and innovation that woman has! I am fortunate to have found such talented souls to play with! That is what the day consisted of.

These are not JH's sandwiches, but her's were very similar..

The summer wine... very refreshing indeed

We have all agreed that once a month is a great opportunity to meet, share ideas and progress!
Now, I have a garage full of boxes I need to get out and sort!

Have a beautiful August afternoon... wherever you are... seek out like-minded people and you will believe in things that you never dreamed possible.. especially yourself! It is the most empowering thing you can do for YOU!

Forty Days and Forty Nights..my journey in the Wilderness

Good evening readers! Thanks for checking in. It is Sunday night and the weekend was spent at my parents house on the lake. This afternoon, I slept... for a really long time! It was a relaxing day, although, it is taking a lot for me to get to relax mode. I have been on high energy consumption for a month now..

 A lot going on in the world... my life is in turmoil, as is many others.. I am grateful for the love and support that I do have... I know to believe in myself is important now more than ever. It is a struggle sometimes to acknowledge the gifts that you do have, especially when they come so easy to you. Receiving is a grace. For generosity to occur, as in a sincere compliment or acknowledgement from another; to be received graciously allows for the generosity of the giver to be truly completed. Every human being wants to make a difference in the world. The common goal- for the highest good of all. This is where people make tragic mistakes.. when the difference is at the expense of others.

My friend and I sign a lease on Tuesday. Move in is scheduled for September 1. So, there is a count down of days.... 40 days.. hmm, reminds me of some famous people who wandered for 40 days and 40 nights in the wilderness... eating locusts and honey... pretty sure... no locusts for me.. but it sounds like a perfect time frame for a raw foods diet. Considering all of my money is going to go to transportation... there will be no eating out for 40 days.

What do I need to focus on right now? Taking care of me. Doing what ever it takes to take care of my health and well being.

Maybe focus on a raw diet right now. I have my Vita-Mix and my juicer with me. Just focus on eating healthy, relaxing and breathing deep healthy breaths. I find myself holding my breath a lot lately. This is toxic for my system, not to mention the food that I have been eating since getting back. Not what I am used to at all.

This is what I needed, to make a plan, to take control of an area of my life that I can control, or at least be in control of my choices... so. Raw food it is... Juicing, salads and other yummy things....

 Some things that I have made in the past that worked...

French Toast, not on the raw food menu, however, no dairy and no sugar.. nuts and coconut, chocolate and a cashew cream batter... Not raw.. but delicious!

This is a fabulous marinara sauce from sun dried tomato and nuts... I made a batch of it and it kept for a very long time. It is some of the best Marinara I have EVER eaten.. The "pasta" is a zucchini that has been cut on a spiralizer.. very tasty. For the recipe on the Marinara .. Addicted to Veggies... 

Stir fry vegetables. not raw, al dente, crisp and bright.. just the way I like them. Warm to release the flavor without overcooking.

Thai rice noodles... with cilantro... yum! Heavy metals be gone!

All tossed together. A very tasty meal indeed. 

This might be my creative expression for the next 40 days.... I have been inspired by a salad that my mom made..the pistachio salad.. Cottage cheese, marshmallows, cool whip, pistachio flavored pudding, and crushed pineapple. I have an inspiration to do something different with this... involving a Young Thai Coconut, Pistachios, Vanilla Cream (made from the YTC) and chopped pistachio, pineapple and a bit of agave nectar for sweetness... It may show up some time this week.. So, keep checking back for pictures... I will share when I get some made... photos at least... 

Good night and sweet dreams to all of you... go to that place of peace, love and compassion for the world. Be compassionate towards others for the choices that they make, even though you may not agree with them and NONE of us certainly understand them! Do not get sucked into the tragedy of others but send them all love and healing in these difficult times of mystery and unfathomable experiences. Peace to all and good night.

Bon Bon's A resource!

Bon Bon's on Bainbridge Island! Here is a great source for those finding Bon Bon's difficult to find. Or if you have devoured your stash at work, as we all know someone who sneaks off to do 'computer' work and is really relaxing with a special stash.. http://bonboncandies.com/

You know who you are! And really, who can resist a good Bon Bon from time to time. 

Chocolate Vanilla Coconut Cream! Oh, my!

This weekend started my focus for getting healthy. I have had a nasty cough for the last several months and not been feeling very energetic, motivated or inspired. (This blog has helped so much for sparking inspiration)

So the new regimen is green juice every day... lots of chlorophyll. Although, there is no chlorophyll in this dessert, it was super easy and super tasty.

I have a vita-mix and I love it, it makes very creamy anything! So this is a dessert that I put together.
I started with the coconut vanilla cream.
1 1/2 cups cashews soaked overnight
2 young thai coconuts (the meat inside)
1 Tbsp Agave nectar
1/4 cup coconut water
vanilla bean seeds

The soaked cashew in the vita-mix with a little filtered water, until very creamy consistency. (Almost like stiff whipped cream. Add all other ingredients and vita-mix until same consistency is created)

Put into a bowl and reserve 1/4 cup in the vita-mix.
1 ripe avocado
1/4 cup Raw Cacao powder
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/3 cup coconut water
1/3 coconut oil (liquid, in the summer this is its natural state, if it is solid, set it in hot water and it will liquify, high heats will loose the health benefits)
1 Tbsp Agave Nectar

Spoon into dessert dishes, spoon coconut vanilla cream on top and sprinkle with raw cacao powder, cinnamon and vanilla bean seed. Chill for at least an hour.

It is very tasty, non dairy and no sugar!

By eating healthy, I am creating a vibrant life for myself. Connecting the threads of my passions, interests and aspirations. Becoming what I want to be, expressing who I am and expanding my experience of self.. Experiencing every moment, vital, brilliant and aware!

Enjoy your monday, the beginning of something new, it may be a week, it may be a life!