Purple hues

Some nicer shots of the lilacs, which appear for such a short, sweet time.

1. Get a couple of containers of Ducktrap smoked mussels, made in Belfast, to share with those down south**

2. Get some Shipyard, a well known Maine beer, because they don’t have it a mere 4 hours away. 

3. Pack a comfy sweatshirt, because it is definitely going to rain. 

4. Remember to thank said southerners for going a little bit out of their way to pick up New York bagels. Amen. 

What are you guys doing this weekend? What do you just have to remember?

*Can you call 50 degrees and rainy summer? No. No you cannot.
**Anywhere south of Portland. 

Kiwi
Cucumber
Mint
Lime

I’m having a hard time figuring out what type of liquid to use. Any recommendations?

Season of beauty

Mint

You should get a mint plant even if you don’t have a garden or even a deck (put it by the window!). Mint is great for everything and it grows like the dickens. It is good in water and smoothies and salad dressing and fresh summery cocktails and most of all in homemade sun tea. And those are just the very easiest uses for it!

This morning I shared my joy with a friend who has made the decision to follow her heart and move to be with the love of her life (they have always had an admirable relationship).

An hour later I consoled a broken hearted friend who told me that her long term boyfriend had decided on another path for himself; one that doesn’t include their relationship.

I’m taken aback by the balance in the world, and feel a little vulnerable with the knowledge of how much life ebbs and flows. I’m grateful to know that for the most part, in the big picture, we’re all going to be ok.

Today I was in meetings from 10:30am until 1pm and by the time I ate lunch what I brought wasn’t enough to fill me up. I’ll be honest everything I was craving had sugar as the first ingredient.

Luckily, when I got to the grocery store, the first thing I saw was raspberries on sale buy one get one free. From there on out I picked out healthy, light snack options for the week.

This week’s snacks:
Dill pickles (the good kind without preservatives or yellow number anything)
Naked brand red machine juice smoothie
Three bean salad
Dolmas
Mandarin oranges
Raspberries

Another try at Artichokes

Last year’s artichoke did not come back so I got a new one at the farmers market. I was sure to inquire about the likelihood of getting chokes, and the farmer told me that they had already exposed them to the cold (which tricks the plant into thinking it has already gone through a full season) and I should expect 1-4 chokes. I put it in the ground right away because they like cooler weather. Hoping for the best!

And a bright cover up until the temperature inches over seventy from the current 53 degrees. It is a day to tell your boss she looks fabulous, because you hope you can pull that off in 30 years. It is a day to let go of some of the worry, because what two bad dreams taught me this week is that real life isn’t and won’t be that bad. Today is a day to be a little bit social and still try to get an evening run in, a day to get up from your desk and go for a walk even if nobody else can find the time. It is a day to drink the coffee, regardless of all of the reasons you often don’t. Today is a day to feel good about yourself, if only to make up just a little bit of the time you might not. It is a day to relax, to let whatever is going to happen to happen, to know that you’re doing the best you can (maybe even better from time to time), indeed that everyone is doing the best they can.

Let today be a good day, regardless of the other directions it might try to go.

Love those fiddleheads

My mom came with a big bag of fiddleheads last week and we cooked them up as quickly as we could. First we boiled them to avoid the risk of food borne illness. Then we sauteed them in butter and garlic (yup) and tossed them in pasta with fresh parmesan, olive oil, salt and pepper. It was all very delicious. Luckily there was enough for leftovers, so we got to enjoy this wild treat for two days out of the year!   

I want some right now.

My happy little garden

Everything is coming up perfectly. We’re still getting some chilly nights (high 30s) but we got most of the rest of the seeds in this weekend. Within a few weeks carrots, beets, summer squash, pattypans, and a whole load of flowers will be coming up.

And look at that kale! Remember how little it was? Growing like a champ!

They were cutting the grass near the trail I was running and the birds couldn’t stay still for even one moment and the sun was in that perfect spot where no matter where you stand the light is coming through the leaves. The air was a little cool but it was just the right amount of crisp to let the scent of fresh cut grass and the ocean take over.

This was my evening, a little bit of balance on a Monday.

Portland Farmer’s Market, May 11, 2013

A gray day is the best time to take pictures at the market. The dewy flowers were especially vibrant and eye catching. I took home a bag of greens and some sunflower shoots.

This time of year you’ll find the market overflowing in flowers, vegetable seedlings, herbs, and young greens. Go and get your fill!

The best donut I’ve ever had Holy Donut

Yesterday I was heading to the farmers market with some friends and we made a pit stop at The Holy Donut on Park Ave. The place was swamped but while we were in line I heard seven words that would change my life forever: “they just came out of the oven.” The woman was referring to the dark chocolate sea salt donuts. My indecision was instantly cleared up and we all ordered up the warm, cakey rounds.

The donuts at Holy Donut are awesome, but the dark chocolate sea salt right from the oven was in a whole other league. It was beyond moist. It was squishy. It was pure decadence.

I may never experience that again, but the memory is so rich I am just glad I could have it once.