the market

I feel fall fast approaching. In fact, I have been told by many new-city-natives that
the cicadas' hum is an early warning of frost- a siren, perhaps. And, while I love the fall season for cardigans, crunching leaves under my feet, football games, wide open windows and a new menu, there are things of summer I struggle to let go. The Saturday morning, local farmers' market will soon end and so will their fresh, beautiful produce savored by our family in the old house, all summer.

The early hours of Saturday mornings I reserve for my own time.

This summer, I've spent these early morning hours with my friend, Jessica. We are running and training for
a half-marathon and like to hit the trail before the sun is up. I know I am deviating a bit from topic,
but running at this hour, witnessing the sun's rays reaching out over the fields of corn and beans and prairie land, has presented powerful and humbling moments. It is me and the Lord.

Our post-sunrise run routine is local coffee and a stroll through the farmers' market, chatting and
filling our bags with goodies for the week ahead. There is nothing better than warm sun shining on your face, coffee in hand, and the perfect medley of market sounds and smells. And, of course, those feelings of a day started before most, complete with a sunrise blessing and His shining grace.

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We are regulars to our favorite farmers. Father, Lord thank you for their worn hands and their devotion to cultivating, harvesting and sharing the riches of the earth.

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a few images from the market-

- don't you just want to buy the whole bin! -

- best eggs ever - we stood in a long line for the strawberries! -

- the best watermelon we've ever had came from the back of this truck -

- tomatillos and poblano before i turned them into salsa verde -
- and there's that best-ever watermelon! -

- here i purchased a beautiful hanging basket and many succulents -

- another morning haul - the peaches were amazing! -

- purple chinese long, green, and dragon tongue beans -

- all from the market, including edible flowers and goat cheese -

- my rustic rhubarb (rhubarb from the market) pie -

- all fresh from the market, including the ingredients in my pico de gallo! -

- weekend cooking and baking with my farmers' market goodies -

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in the details:

i am happy to share recipes - send me a message

(salsa verde, market salad, rustic rhubarb pie, pico de gallo, cucumber vinegar salad)

something about summer

I realized today, that without thinking, I move through the old house in the mornings,

pulling open window coverings on half of our 42 windows. This summer when we had nothing but time,
I allowed myself to linger in front of certain windows, coffee in hand.

The kids went back to school last week. I dreaded that day.

You don't think about it as much at the beginning of summer; that day is still far enough away. You are

not saying to yourself with a pit in your stomach, we only have three more weeks. You say with relief,

we have a lot of days together.

I did not get tired of my children this summer, and I was not ready for them to be away from home.

We enjoyed our time together. We savored the moments we did not have last summer. Our season, our time, our opportunity for summer rejuvenation last year was consumed with packing and saying goodbye.

I think the children understood this. I think they felt it.

I wish I could tell you we have easily adjusted to our school year routine. I wish I could tell you
the first day of school this year was easier than last. This day marked one year. It has been a tough and exhausting year for all of us. I feel like I should explain, but you dear readers know the stories.

What I can tell you- I love my kids. They are strong and beautiful and full of life. I love my husband.
We have all needed to lean on each other this year, more than before. I do not know what our second year in the new city will be. And so, until the leaves turn and the air is too cool to keep shoulders bare,
we will live summer.

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pajamas and antiques

My favorite summer mornings are those spent at home in our pajamas, with no plans.

We have not had too many of those yet this season. Though our activities have been fun, it is nice to now have a few weeks of nothing. So, what do you do with your plan-less summer mornings?

Today we had breakfast out back. (Perhaps, I still need to share pictures of the finished garage, patio, backyard...) The kids and I chalked the driveway and because they were playing so nicely, I decided to spend a few minutes photographing my recent antiquing finds. Here they are!

Okay, the finds in these two pictures come from an antique mall. While antique malls are not my favorite, sometimes you can find a good deal. As you can see, I found a few!
The glasses were added to my mishmash of vintage glasses we use for everyday - under $10.
The brown, ribbed bowl and plate is McCoy - only $6!
The pots are McCoy and USA - under $10.
Vintage, last supper painting - $10.
I have a weakness for the little Christmas figurines, these are marked Japan on the bottom - $20 (but
there were three more in the set - my Mom and I split them).

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The goodies in these pictures are from another shed sale- same place I told you about here.

The wooden rack is from an old church pew. It will go on the wall next to Koko's bed, for books - $3.

The piano bench needs a little work, but is perfect for the upstairs landing - $10.

You can probably tell, I also have a weakness for small, framed stuff - all pictured here were under $10.

I have a smallish collection of baby and children's items as well - elephant tin $1.

Apple crate - $4.

Vintage, local advertising tray - $5.

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Have any questions about my finds? Please ask and happy antiquing!

the 4th

We learned last week that the fourth of July is a big deal here.

Flags and banners still hang respectfully from most of the old houses in the old neighborhood. We displayed ours as well. The flag was given to us by the previous owner. His son told us he thought it should stay with the house. And we are happy to have it.

I think I previously mentioned the July 4th block party tradition. Well, it was a great time. We met new folks and chatted with our neighbors. The kids together decorated their bikes and Koko's wagon, then paraded up and down the hill for much of the morning. The t-shirts were a hit and cute I think.

We spent the rest of the day with our friends at a nearby lake. We feel so blessed to have met this family, and they graciously included us in their own family fourth tradition. It was great to swim, visit and eat.
Doesn't food (especially chip and dippy stuff) always taste better at the lake.

We drove home just after sunset and watched explosions of fireworks in every direction.
The neighbors warned us it would be loud in the old neighborhood, but we were not prepared for smoke-filled air seen in the light of the street lamps. You know how you smell the evening campfire on you the next day? Well, same thing here. It sounded like a war-zone, but that's okay. We pulled up to the old house just in time to sit on the front steps and watch the fireworks display.

- koko won best float! -

- E got an honorable mention -

- this was such a fun craft to do with the kids -

 

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Hope all you dear friends and readers had a fun 4th.

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in the details:

america t-shirts - fabric paint, letter stencils purchased from craft store

we supplied white hanes t-shirts - i had the brushes and made my own flag stencil

plant friday: moss rose

I am not sure why, but I never planted moss rose in AZ.

Funny, because I think it would thrive there. The moss rose is durable; it will suffer through blistering,

full-sun heat and still present beautiful and vibrant flowers. I grabbed several multi-colored packs and filled

a few clay pots on the front porch. They do not disappoint and can be purchased in many, many colors.

Moss rose does well in the ground, too. I am always looking for ideas when I walk and run in the old neighborhood, and I see a lot of it planted in beds. It will fill-out and spread, but I see evidence of bunnies snacking on the leaves. There are ways to prevent this, but after all my planting this season, I decided that from now on (she says until next spring), I will only plant perennials in the ground. Annuals in pots.

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summer series

I have been wanting to share this idea with you, and today seems like the right day.
On the last day of school, we gave out these fun and yummy treats to the kids' teachers and the staff.

Wouldn't these cute drinks be so festive and refreshing at your Fourth of July block parties and gatherings! Perhaps, I will get a few ready for ours tomorrow. The old house sits on a block that celebrates July 4th every year with a patriotic sing-a-long, kid bike parade, watermelon-eating contest and brunch. Oh, and I was recruited early on to do the t-shirt craft.

This tradition is 30 years running, say the neighbors. Tomorrow will be our first!

- you know me and trader joe's! -

-orange you glad it's summer! -

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 in the details:

orange cream soda - trader joe's, $4

tags - all stuff i have:  white tags, white ribbon, circle stamp, orange ink pad, sharpies

(all craft items available at your local craft or scrapbook store)

summer series

Today brings the first official day of summer.

The children and I drove the 45 minute commute to meet hubby for lunch. We always eat at a great,
little park a few blocks down the road from his office. The air was hot and sticky, but this is where we had our unintentional, celebratory summer solstice picnic.

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