Vegetables

In late spring, I found that the two mini purple potatoes, in a mini-potato selection I'd purchased at the grocery store, had started to sprout. When I was putting together the deck pots, I put them in a pot of their own. This week, one potato was showing at the surface, so I decided it was time to harvest. We got a dozen little purple potatoes, plus a summer of filler for the deck pots.

Last week I was in Minnesota - my daughter Bekah had a lovely little baby girl. While I was gone, my Oldtimer didn't want to pick up our City Fresh allotment, so no photo from last week, BUT...look at the loveliness we got this week! Isn't that mini watermelon just perfect for a "single share"? And beets again! I really do have to thank Serena for her suggestion of tossing beets with other root veggies in a little olive oil and ROASTING them. That's one of our new favorite grilled dishes. Looks like I'll be able to make my Oldtimer another batch of pepper relish.

Kindness

A couple weeks ago, I sent a packet of unusual handmade papers and fibrous fabrics to my online friend Griselda. She makes beautiful Spirit dolls, and makes them highly textured, sometimes with wings, always infused with Reiki energy.

When I came home from visiting my daughter and family, there was a package from Gris. Not only did she send me a bunch of her fabulous face cabs, she also sent this wonderful doll called White Light, Moon of Creativity Healing Spirit. I certainly didn't expect anything like this, but am delighted to have her. She already hangs in a place of honor, above the window and watching over my worktable.

Gris currently has many Spirit dolls offered in her Etsy shop. Hers is actually the first Etsy shop I saved as a favorite, over three years ago.

Two Blankets

These two simple baby blankets were started a long time ago, and I just never got the satin edge on them. Finally, decided I better finish them up quickly before I went to Minneapolis to meet the new grandbaby. I brought them out of the bag, and asked Olivia to choose which one went to her, and which to her baby sister. She, lover of all things princess, rainbow, and PINK naturally chose the one on the left. (Isn't that a great fabric? I think it looks like rows of corn, but it's a Kaffe Fassett print called "bead stripe.") Now I'm working away on other things - to be shared soon!

City Fresh, August 10

Here's this week's single share from City Fresh. Amazing, isn't it? The cantalope is perfect, the corn and potatoes were delicious. Yes, we had them immediately for dinner last night!

I'm heading out of town in the morning to meet my new granddaughter, so I think the rest of this will go to my co-worker. I know Oldtimer isn't going to cook while I'm gone!

My Name is Betty doll

Round Robin doll "My Name is Betty" came home last night. Isn't she marvelous?
All dolls in the RR started with the same theme. We created our beginning doll, gave her a face and a journal, and used the journal to establish her story line. Mine was the "Original Betty" - the inspiration for all the 1940 Betty pin-up girls and starlets. The pattern I used was from Sherry Goshon - a challenge doll. I made the entire doll from printed fabrics.
She became quite glamorous - with a secret wish to pole dance!
Here's the journal cover:
And my favorite page in the journal:
And like the page says, I am tickled pink over this doll.

I also got to work on "Betty Croaker," "Bodacious Betty," and "Betty Embers - Romance Writer."

Little Updates

This mixed potted plant on the deck is doing better than any of the others. Look at the length of those sweet potato vines!
I was trying to get a photo of the butterfly, working the blooms of the butterfly bush (I love that fragrance), and ended up with silhouettes, instead.
Yes, this is really what the sky looked like near sunset one night last week.
I brushed Murphy yesterday before bathing. It looks like we could make another whole dog!
No matter how often she gets swatted, Molly won't leave the cat alone - even when he retreats to the top of the hot tub.

City Fresh This Week

This week's City Fresh provided two kinds of fruit - small yellow apples, and peaches. We also got a standard eggplant, and four different kinds of peppers. I think I'm going to try making a pepper relish this afternoon. We used the "swap" box to trade in our kale and get a second head of buttercrunch lettuce - Gerry loves that lettuce on a sandwich.

We've gotten garlic almost every week and I'm loving it. Easy as it is, I may never buy the jars of pre-chopped garlic again. I'm starting to feel the same way about that as I do Cheez-Whiz.

Again, City Fresh

I'll probably post these photos every week I participate, assuming I remember! To me, this is just the best of both worlds - bringing fresh produce to city dwellers, and supporting local agriculture. I'm delighted with everything I've gotten, made a commitment to trying everything - even the unfamiliar - and it's helping me stretch my Cleveland wings a bit, too.

As an example, I did not know that Cleveland had a Co-op, until I started participating in City Fresh. Images of Minneapolis' Wedge Co-op dance in my head - no clue if that's accurate, but a gal can dream.

Last night we had the yellow squash, the zucchini, the bell pepper, and the Japanese eggplant with some onion, drizzled with olive oil, sprinkled with sea salt and some herbs, all done together in the grill pan. It was wonderful. The potatoes went into potato salad (which my Oldtimer claims is like candy). We had the corn on the cob the very night we got it, and it was delicious.

Every week, I feel as I've picked up a bag of treasure! Love this program, and think it's delightful that they allow weekly pay, instead of an entire season up front.

This Week's Photo - Favorite Things

I took this photo several years ago, and may even have shared it here before, but it's still a favorite.

When we still lived in NC, we met a couple who gardened beautifully, and sold daylilies. One day, they took us out to their farm - a few acres outside of town, with a little log house. I just love this setting; as a matter of fact, I keep saying I want to live in the house, but the truth is that I would probably miss indoor plumbing.

Last Week's Photo

The theme for last week's photo of the week was "something magical." We spotted this little guy in the driveway this weekend, and I think he (she?) fits the bill.

City Fresh, July 13

Though I'm in danger of repeating myself - I just love this City Fresh program here in Cleveland, which is a type of CSA (Community Supported Agriculture). Thanks to Jude for showing off her first purchase, and Deb for cluing me in to what this program is called, so I knew how to look for it.

This is today's haul - and this is just a single share! I told Gerry when we were walking away from the distribution table tonight that I don't feel like I made a produce purchase, I feel like I received a bag of gifts. Love it.

Woodpecker

This is the only shot I managed to grab - through the window, with a barely focused zoom - before this woodpecker flew away. He was HUGE - the biggest one I've ever seen.
When he flew to the neighboring tree, the thin branch actually moved under his weight. Amazing.

Hot - and today's City Fresh

Hot in Cleveland today! No relief in sight. this butterfly didn't mind, though...
...even though he's apparently been nipped!
Here's today's take at City Fresh. I just love this! I'm already soaking the cucumbers to make pickles; we've never tried these little red onions, but were told you can even put the tops in your cooking. And look - a little bottle of pure maple syrup! This week's challenge will be the bok choy.

iPhone photos

I've downloaded some new apps for playing with photos on my iPhone. These are from the "Vint B&W":


And from the TiltShiftGen app:

I think I'll be playing with these a lot more!

Beautiful Day

The temperature, the atmosphere, the breeze, the sky - everything is absolutely perfect today. I need to find a place that is like this all year round. Of course, as Gerry would tell me, any place this perfect all the time would be way too crowded.