Sunday, August 28, 2011

Sweet Image

My cousin Kiersen studies abroad and has been visiting home for the summer. She's turned into an amazing young woman. I just love her. Molly so looks up to her. Everytime there's a family get together, when someone leaves, everyone else chases them on foot down the street. Waving and honking horns as if it's going to be so long until we see eachother again. Because we all live so close now, that's usually with in the week. We said goodbye to Kiersen last night and she held Molly in a tight embrace, tears. We loaded into the car and as we were pulling away two figures flew out the front door as if they were kids again. Chasing us down the street, Kiersen and her brother Ed raced eachother to the corner. All of us calling out the window, "we love you Kiersen". Have a safe trip sweetie and come back soon.

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Saturday

Today is campus beautification day at the waldorf school. We're going to have a little breakfast and bike over to contribute to the community and we haven't taken a family bike ride in quite a while. This afternoon I'll be making risotto for my meeting with my friend Vatrena, she just loves my risotto. I'm going to be helping her with some things to get her concert in December off the ground and I'm so excited to be apart of the energy! Since it's something I've never done before, I'll be learning so much, not to mention, I just love seeing my friends doing there thing. I have big goals this year to keep me driven and exploring opportunities for creative money making ideas! To quote "Gob" from the show "Arrested Development", "I'm incredible! I'm having an incredible year!" (high five)

Friday, August 26, 2011

Additions to the Secret Garden

Delicate and lush Baby Tears
Gentle Violets
Cool and Green.....refreshing in the heat

Thursday, August 25, 2011

The Big Garden

Sweet figs


A lot of beans


Back home with more beans than we could possibly eat!

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Our Secret Garden





One thing we are lacking in the Shire is privacy. Every once in a while, one just craves sacred space to sit quietly without having to feel available. I'm working on establishing some more clear boundaries to start off the school year. I love being able to close my curtains and have a calm ending to the day, to watch the kids read or read to them, brush Molly's hair and braid it for her, pick out clothes for the next day. We are getting in our rhythm for the dwindling light. We have a small courtyard that we have yet to use because it once belonged to our large lab. Molly took a chair out there yesterday to read and it made me realize how nice it would be to put some love into a little secret garden. When we aren't feeling social, we can retreat to it's little walls filled with succulents, beautiful rocks and pink bougainvillea. Molly and I worked all morning on this space and it already feels so welcoming. Now she wants a fountain! Maybe we'll build one.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Simple Sandwich

The kids and I took a bike ride to the library today and was it hot! For some reason, the library owed ME money so I took the kids to the co-op for a snack. I picked-up a delicious seeded baguette and made the best little sandwich. A little mayo, Dijon mustard and turkey stuffed into the sliced bread. I like simple! Cooling off in the air conditioning and drinking lots of ice water. I'm tired.

Monday, August 22, 2011

Home

Bluegrass, incense, open windows and doors
Tidy and comfortable
Happy, safe
Settling
Molly's captured smoke in a jar
She'll "keep it"
School soon begins
One more violin
Lessons? YES!
Getting in the flow
Here it goes! :)

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Work to be Done

Finally, Michael's day off has arrived and we have work to do. Besides cleaning the house, we need to get to the big garden for more picking! Denise came over yesterday to show me the large basket of heirloom cherry tomatoes she had picked. So beautiful and delicious. Of course, there are millions of beans as well! Right now, the house is quiet and the low hum of Oliver's loft fan is so soothing. Coffee is warming, my curtains are drawn over cool windows..........this day feels meant to inspire. I'll look for clues.

Saturday, August 20, 2011

This Morning in the Garden Pics

In forests of sunflowers
My eyes behold

Simplicity
Abundance
Glistening
Emerging
Waiting
Beauty
and the changing light of the soul

I Smell Fall

I added cinnamon to my coffee grounds enhancing the sense that fall is near. I've opened the windows to let in the cool morning air and smell the damp earth below the grape vines. The artichoke plant is releasing large, white "faeries" that settle in the garden beds, tangled amongst the cantaloupe vine. Mourning doves coo and leaves move gently in an inaudible breeze. No bees have come to the mint patch yet, it's still too cool. I'm in a jungle of green that is showing signs of yellowing. Change of season is so exciting! I want to bake and make stews and chili. Tonight we'll have fried green tomatoes!

Friday, August 19, 2011

Recipe for Fresh Tomatoes






I always keep tomato sauce simple during the summer. The recipe I posted the other day is pretty much my go to. Tonight I'll add a little red wine and serve it over creamy polenta for a yummy comfort food dinner, or maybe some homemade cornbread with fresh corn mixed into the batter! I must not forget the beans, as Denise has informed me they need more picking! How many ways can you eat beans? I'll have to get creative. Here are some pics of our vacation at Lake Winnipesaukee. Such a beautiful place.

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Signs of the End of Summer

Leaves on my grape vines are starting to crisp and the late harvest fruits are ripening. Figs, grapes and late harvest peaches are nearly ready while the pomegranates hang heavier from our tree everyday. I love the approach of fall. It calls you back in and beckons you to harvest and store. I hope to have enough green tomatoes for my mincemeat this year, it was so delicious! The sunflowers have taken over a good portion of my garden, which now looks like a forest of yellow. The bees inundate the flowering mint and we're careful not to disturb them as we brush by. My cousin Kiersen is joining me for more bean picking today. Picnic in the garden? Sounds beautiful. I'll make some herbal sun tea to refresh us. Recipe: 1 bunch of mint, lemon verbena, small handful of lavender, and lemon balm. Cover and let steep, absorbing the suns vibrant energy throughout the hot day. Pour over ice and add stevia if you want a little sweet!

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Recipe for Fresh Tomato Pasta

Saute onion and garlic in as much olive oil as you like! Add your most ripe tomatoes from your garden or market with fresh cut herbs like thyme and oregano. Simmer until juicy, salt and pepper as you go and add fresh chopped basil to finish. Toss into pasta adding a little of the pasta water. Grate fresh parmigiana and more basil! Simple, delicious and FRESH!

Fruit on the Vine

Back from a two week trip to the east coast and our garden has gone crazy! Molly and I picked a huge basket of beautiful tomatoes, basil, peppers and a single eggplant. Our cantaloupe are the size of a baby's head, so exciting. For dinner, I chopped up the tomatoes with basil, salt and pepper and spooned it on to a slices of baguette toasted in butter and rubbed with garlic. Perfect! Today, I'll be going out to the big garden to harvest beans to steam and toss in pesto. It's so good to be home and to be surrounded by such abundance. School will be starting soon and I'll welcome the balanced rhythm. Summer draws me so far away from my center and the fall brings me back in with it's waning light, bike rides to school, lunch packing and quiet dinners. I am ready.