Tuesday, June 23, 2009

As it is Tuesday, I was back at the market.
Due to the heat, I was glad I arrived early,
as had most everyone else.
Most of the ladies heads were donning straw hats.
{Good I am behind the camera as I was wearing a golf visor
that I felt shouted, "Visitor!"
As I do not speak in the native tongue of the South,
I am asked at most booths my origin.
I giggle inside,
as I think that is so funny because when one travels abroad
it is a question one expects and answers,
"The United States."
I don't think they would find the humor
in that answer so I simply state my state.}
Last week, shopping amongst the heirloom tomatoes,
I did rub shoulders, literally, and met the chef/part owner of
one of our girls favorite restaurants,
where we hosted one of J's graduation dinners.
Today, as he was doing his shopping for the restaurant,
he looked at me and said, "Visiting from Ohio!"I told him I purchased a few of the
tomatoes he had nicely suggested and that they were delicious.
So fun to mingle!
That is one of the goals of the market--
for folks to meet and greet one another.
For the city dwelling family to meet the farmer and his family
and better understand how and where the food
they are consuming is grown and/or caught.
On the flip side, the market is an opportunity not only to sell their produce but also for the farmers to meet and understand the consumers of their goods and their culinary ingredient desires.
The usual findings--
if these crustaceans were missing it would be as strange
as not finding potatoes at an Idaho food market.
Gorgeous eggplant.
Along with, as the tag states,
"Old-Time Louisiana Eggplant (almost extinct)"
What was new this week?
Miss Taylor had these beautiful string beans!And a new booth, at least for me, was one where this 
sweetest lady was selling her pies.
She baked all these pies along with all the ones in her van.
Mercy, I did not want all her hard work to be in vain;
I am not a lover of pie,
but I did spy with my eye
her fritters she makes from the pie dough scraps.
Did you imagine you heard my voice saying,
"Yes, please, one of your delicious fritters, mam!"?
{I told my dearest ones I had two treats...
what was the other...hmmm?}
This darling pie baker said she would be back next week,
two weeks in a row, to sell her special Fourth of July pie.
I told her I hope she has a wonderful week and that
I will definitely stop by for look at her prize pie in seven days.
Peaches...peaches from 'Bama.
One of J's favorites.
And then home to make my beloved oatmeal...
sliced peaches and the blueberries we had picked.

Monday, June 22, 2009

Today I attended the "Classic Movie Series" at this theatre:
Loved lining up with every local,
at least it seemed that way as the theatre was
packed as tightly as a can of sardines,
to purchase my ticket at this arched window box.
Any guesses as to the classic movie that was viewed in digital?
I'll give you three hints...
"Raindrops on roses
and whiskers on kittens.""Brown paper packages tied up with strings.
These are a few of my favorite things."
What?
You want just one one more clue?
Okay.
One of my absolute favorite things...
"Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes."

The correct answer...
"Sound of Music"

An air conditioned afternoon activity on a 95 degree day
is another of my favorite things!
What are your favorite things for a way good day?
{photo three by flickr Plays with Needles; photo four by Jessica;
photo five by flickr deebeeandswivel; photo six by flickr my yiny star}

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Happy first day of summer!
Vampires {and "Twilight" fans}
beware as it is summer solstice--
the longest day of sunlight in the year
for us in the Northern Hemisphere.
"Sun, sun, sun, here it comes."
-lyrics by George Harrison
Enjoy the sun for a way good Father's Day!
{flickr photo by neloqua}

Friday, June 19, 2009

For Mr R who is a fantastic
Daddio
to our daughters, Emily and Jessica--
celebrate with these brownie burger cupcakes and, as
YOU make the best sugar cookies in the world,
enjoy these cookie french fries!
What fun we have as a family
 serving, singing, cooking, laughing...
everything!
Dad + Daughters = LOVE
Happy Father's Day, Mr R!
{photo and step by step directions at Bakerella}

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

I roamed the French Quarter for 6 1/2 hours
in 95 degree weather and discovered
I am completely intrigued with
working shutters.
I love the decorative color
as well as amazed at the actual
functionality of them.Bea-ut-i-ful!

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

As it is Tuesday, it is Uptown Farmers Market Day!
Jessica discovered this a few years ago
and both she and Emily
thoroughly enjoy shopping from the locals.
I was lucky to be delegated as the shopper today,
list and cash-ola in hand.
{I actually get to shop for four Tuesdays!}
They explained which stand to be at first,
Miss Taylor, the egg lady
{and please have the farmer hold the items until the bell rings}
and where to get what.
Check out the prices on the fresh shrimp!
The shrimper
just pulls a handful of them out of the cooler
for shoppers to inspect before weighing them.
{They sure have long antennas.}Another southern delicacy--
okra.Ah, strawberries.
As the weather is now so hot,
for this year, today is the last market for these red gems.
Also, no lettuce or scallions until the fall--
too hot.
{After questioning a farmer I learned
they call or here
scallions are shallots.
Thank goodness for a kind lady
who shared she had the opposite experience
of mine today when she evacuated for Katrina
and went to the store asking for shallots and was told
they are scallions.
I will look it up and get back to you
for the next farmers market--
maybe they are used interchangeably?}
Upon my return home,
I had fresh milk from Farmer Smith on my oatmeal
garnished with strawberries.
Yum~t'was a way good breakfast!

Monday, June 15, 2009

I am staying behind this
fleur-de-lis gate
in New Orleans.
This is Louisiana.
It is hot--95 degrees.
And humid;
but not unbearably so...yet!
There are lizards;
which are startling, but fascinating.
And there is this 'lil nugget.
I am in a different world;
our daughters world...
that I get to explore and experience
in a a different season...
summer.
It will be a way good trip!

Saturday, June 13, 2009

"All my bags are packed; I'm ready to go...
cause I'm leaving
on a jet plane."
{Thank you John Denver--how I miss your music!}
Mr R and I shall pass in the air this evening
as he flies home from his sisters wedding
and I fly to New Orleans for four weeks
to stay with our daughters
and Ms. Tulip!
Yes, there are a few flaws in the plan...
mainly and mostly missing Mr R= gigundo drawback
{"evry place I go, I'll think of you"}
and not planting window boxes as I shall not be here
to nurture them;
Mr R would (kinda understandably} rather nurture his golf game
than flowers and this is his time, too, to enjoy.
He will be a great gardner to our zillion tomato
and basil plants and as many varieties.
I hope our girls have a garden hose to run through with
the puppy because it is going to be hot!
We will enjoy way good days-
I hope you do too!
Good night Mr R.
I love you!

Friday, June 12, 2009

Mr R is in California
for his youngest sisters wedding.
Happy forever Catherine and Cris!

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Where I grew up,
in the Rocky Mountains,
fireflies were something of summer dreams...
they simply did not exist in our neck of the woods.
When my husband attended his beloved 
Duke University
for graduate school,
we spied
with our own little eyes
fireflies
for the first time.
An Ohio favorite family memory is of our girls collecting fireflies on an Amish country hillside late one afternoon and depositing the insects in a handmade (what other type would one purchase in Amish region) mesh container, so the little lightening bugs could breathe; then, that evening as we were all tucking into bed, letting them loose and having our entire motel room illuminated by fireflies. A summer dream; indeed.
Enjoy the magicalness of summer for a way good day!
{photo two by flickr bluedot11}

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

After puppy school
our girls and Miss Tulip
are beginning to look like this!
Fab-u-lous!
{illustration by cynthia frenette}

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

"Pleasant words are as an honeycomb,
sweet to the soul
and health to the bones."
Proverbs 16:24
{photo one by flickr Hi Paul; photo two by flickr michele cat}

Monday, June 8, 2009

Summertime treat!
Make simple syrups, layer, freeze;
enjoy for a way good day!
{photo and recipes at martha stewart.com}
{*delicious raspberry popsicles at Giada's site}

Friday, June 5, 2009

Congratulations, J!!!

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Oh summertime,
I completely adore you.
I love endless days; at least this week.
happy sigh.
{please call only in case of an emergency}
I will unfold myself and come help you.
[photo by flickr Trisha G.]